Chief executive chooses three pro-establishment figures for university's top body after HKU saga
Two anti-Occupy lawyers and a Beijing adviser have been appointed by Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying to the governing council of Lingnan University, sparking concern among student leaders at the institution.
Junius Ho Kwan-yiu, a former president of the Law Society, solicitor Maggie Chan Man-ki, and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference representative Michael Ngai Ming-tak were among the five people appointed yesterday.
The announcement, published in the Government Gazette, drew an angry response from Lingnan student leaders, who slammed the appointments as a sign of intensifying political interference at the institution.
The news followed the saga over Professor Johannes Chan Man-mun, the liberal scholar who was last week rejected for a pro-vice-chancellor post at the University of Hong Kong.
Nathan Law Kwun-chung doubted Chan was suitable for the post. Photo: Jonathan WongNathan Law Kwun-chung, secretary-general of the Federation of Students and formerly head of Lingnan's student union, said: "It seems to me these are political rewards for Ho's and Chan's efforts in opposing the Occupy movement."
He added that he doubted Chan was suitable for the post, questioning the adequacy of her public service experience.
Law also said the government should change its practice of not explaining the basis for its appointments to universities' governing bodies.
At present, over half, or 18, of the 33 members of Lingnan's governing council are appointed by the chief executive. The proportion is higher than that of other local universities' councils, including HKU's, where one-third of members are so appointed.
Philip Lau Chun-lam, president of Lingnan's student union, echoed Law's concerns and said the union would hold a forum soon to discuss its next steps.
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Lau noted that Ho criticised the union on an RTHK public affairs programme for featuring a band that sang songs with foul language at a campus concert in May. Ho said the Public Order Ordinance had been breached.
Ho, who set up a group called Protect Central last year as city-wide mass sit-ins began, said concerns were "unnecessary".
"I'm not from the People's Liberation Army," Ho said. "I'm only here to help the school. Students should think independently and not speculate about a neutral appointment procedure."
Chan, who helped minibus operators seek a court injunction against Occupy protesters in Mong Kok, said she was qualified, citing her six years on City University's governing council.
The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong member added: "I won't look at things solely from a political perspective. I will work for the best interests of Lingnan."
Executive Council member and former Lingnan council chairman Bernard Chan urged the body to communicate better with staff and students.
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1865904/hong-kong-student-leaders-political-rewards
