Fung Wai-wah
Nearly three-quarters of respondents to a Professional Teachers’ Union survey say they are opposed to Arthur Li serving as the next chairman of the University of Hong Kong’s governing council.
The teachers’ union last week interviewed more than 670 of its members working in tertiary institutions. Seventy-four percent of those surveyed do not think Li is a suitable candidate to serve as the next chairman, while only 13 percent believe he is suitable.
The term of the council’s current chairman, Leong Che-hung, expires on November 6 and it's been widely speculated that he will be succeeded by Li. Li is an executive councilor and was appointed to the council by the university’s chancellor, Chief Executive CY Leung.
Union president Fung Wai-wah says their members are worried that Li will not defend academic freedom or institutional autonomy if he is appointed as HKU council chairman.
The work of the university council, and its composition, has come under increased scrutiny in recent months as it deliberated on whether to appoint liberal legal scholar Johannes Chan as a pro-vice-chancellor.
The decision not to appoint Chan was seen by critics as political retribution for his ties to Occupy Movement co-founder Benny Tai.
Student unions at eight local universities, including the University of Hong Kong, are planning to launch referendums on whether to amend the law that makes the chief executive the chancellor of all public universities in Hong Kong, and which allows him to appoint members to their governing bodies.
The unions also want to ask whether more teaching staff and students should be represented on school councils. The referendums are to be conducted before February 2016.
The Federation of Students say they will consult students on possible protest actions that may be taken, including another Occupy Movement or class boycotts.
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Last updated: 2015-10-25 HKT 13:30
The teachers’ union last week interviewed more than 670 of its members working in tertiary institutions. Seventy-four percent of those surveyed do not think Li is a suitable candidate to serve as the next chairman, while only 13 percent believe he is suitable.
The term of the council’s current chairman, Leong Che-hung, expires on November 6 and it's been widely speculated that he will be succeeded by Li. Li is an executive councilor and was appointed to the council by the university’s chancellor, Chief Executive CY Leung.
Union president Fung Wai-wah says their members are worried that Li will not defend academic freedom or institutional autonomy if he is appointed as HKU council chairman.
The work of the university council, and its composition, has come under increased scrutiny in recent months as it deliberated on whether to appoint liberal legal scholar Johannes Chan as a pro-vice-chancellor.
The decision not to appoint Chan was seen by critics as political retribution for his ties to Occupy Movement co-founder Benny Tai.
Student unions at eight local universities, including the University of Hong Kong, are planning to launch referendums on whether to amend the law that makes the chief executive the chancellor of all public universities in Hong Kong, and which allows him to appoint members to their governing bodies.
The unions also want to ask whether more teaching staff and students should be represented on school councils. The referendums are to be conducted before February 2016.
The Federation of Students say they will consult students on possible protest actions that may be taken, including another Occupy Movement or class boycotts.
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Last updated: 2015-10-25 HKT 13:30
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1219440-20151025.htm
