Top decision-making body throws weight behind Leong Che-hung
SHIRLEY ZHAO AND JOYCE NG
PUBLISHED : Friday, 13 November, 2015, 5:20am
UPDATED : Friday, 13 November, 2015, 5:37am
Abraham Razack and Margaret Leung yesterday.Photo: K. Y. Cheng
The University of Hong Kong's governing council has endorsed its former chairman's action last month to seek a controversial gag order that bans media publication of the council's business.
It also names council member Abraham Razack as its temporary spokesman until a chairman is appointed. The lawmaker will set the agenda for the next meeting and handle emergency matters as well.
The leadership vacuum is caused by Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, who, contrary to expectations, has not yet named a successor to council chairman Dr Leong Che-hung after the expiry of his term on November 6.
It is believed that Leung wants to appoint Arthur Li Kwok-cheung but is treading cautiously because of public opposition to the former education minister known for his high-handed style.
READ MORE: Suspicions HKU posting was delayed to avoid uproar
Razack said last night after a council meeting that members had agreed to support Leong's injunction application, made without prior consultation with them.
He said: "We support this because Dr Leong has done the right thing according to our rules. He needed to safeguard our principle of confidentiality, making sure all council members can speak what they want to say. This is legally and morally justified."
They would discuss what to do about the order after the next court hearing on November 24, the same day when the council would meet again, he added.
HKU treasurer Margaret Leung Ko May-yee, who chaired yesterday's meeting as a member, said if no chairman was forthcoming in the meantime, they would have to elect a chairman meeting by meeting.
Two weeks ago, Leong applied for the interim injunction in the name of HKU after Commercial Radio aired two audio clips of confidential talks in September in which the council voted down pro-democracy scholar Professor Johannes Chan Man-mun's candidacy for pro-vice-chancellorship. Critics see the council's move as politically motivated.
READ MORE: New HKU leak reveals dispute over pro-vice chancellor choice
That order was all-encompassing, banning the station and "persons unknown" from reporting details of all council meetings, past and future. It plunged HKU deeper into the mire, rocked as it already was for months by Chan's appointment issue and donation claims against Occupy founder Benny Tai Yiu-ting.
Opponents of the order told the court Leong had acted beyond his powers as chairman. In that hearing, the scope of the ban was narrowed down to cover only the five council meetings held since June, where Chan's candidacy was discussed.
But the order did not stop a third clip - featuring member Rosanna Wong Yick-ming criticising Chan - emerging on a Taiwanese website two days later.
The council's student representative, Billy Fung Jing-en, voiced "great disappointment" at the government's delay in naming a new chairman. He said leaving the post vacant would be a "very severe blow" to HKU.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1878358/hong-kong-university-council-backs-ex-chairs-bid
