SHIRLEY ZHAO SHIRLEY.ZHAO@SCMP.COM
PUBLISHED : Wednesday, 26 August, 2015, 4:05pm
UPDATED : Wednesday, 26 August, 2015, 4:10pm
Billy Fung Jing-en said the HKU student union would organise a referendum on its suggestions. Photo: David Wong
The University of Hong Kong’s student union has vowed to “arm itself in a war of freedom” as it prepares to offer a plan showing how the institution can reform the structure of its governing body amid a row over political interference.
Addressing new students at an assembly today, HKU student union president Billy Fung Jing-en said the composition of the council needs to be reviewed to “comprehensively reflect the opinions of the main sectors of the university”.
He said the union would investigate the situation at other universities, put forward deliberation dates on possible amendments and organise a referendum on the suggestions.
“We must arm ourselves so that we will stand a chance in deterring interference in our institution in this war of freedom,” he said.
“Our university is now losing her glory... As members of our university, we have no reason to watch it die.”
The debate over reforming the structure of HKU’s governing council was sparked by the council’s decision to twice delay discussing the appointment of liberal scholar and former law dean Johannes Chan Man-mun to a key managerial position.
Although the council said the reason for the deferral was to wait for a supervising provost to be hired in order to give input in the appointment, many believed the decisions were influenced by government-appointed council members as a punishment for Chan’s close relationship with his colleague, Occupy Central co-founder Benny Tai Yiu-ting.
Six of the 23-member council are appointed by the chief executive, who himself serves as the university’s chancellor. Staff and students only have eight representatives in the council. Many have been calling for a reform of the structure to rid the council of political influences.
The council yesterday made a decision to discuss Chan’s appointment at next month’s meeting. The decision came after angry students stormed a July 28 council meeting, after learning that the council had once again deferred Chan’s appointment.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1852742/hku-student-union-vows-arm-war-freedom-reform
