Controversial academic also suggests chief executive be stripped of chancellor role
STUART.LAU@SCMP.COM
PUBLISHED : Thursday, 10 December, 2015, 4:12pm
UPDATED : Thursday, 10 December, 2015, 4:58pm
Professor Johannes Chan Man-mun. Photo: SCMP Pictures
The liberal scholar barred from joining the top management of the University of Hong Kong hit back at a vocal critic, saying former education minister Arthur Li Kwok-cheung “simply is not the type of person” to lead HKU’s governing body.
Professor Johannes Chan Man-mun also suggested that the chief executive be stripped of the role of chancellor when the Institute of Education is elevated to be a university. The position is seen by critics as a way for the city’s leader to exercise control, if not interference, in the operation of universities, although Leung Chun-ying has repeatedly denied it.
Chan, a former HKU law dean, was rejected by the university’s council to become the pro-vice-chancellor although he was the only candidate recommended. A leaked recording showed that Li, who is also an executive councillor and tipped to become the next chairman of the HKU council, criticised Chan for not having a PhD.
“We are increasingly a more and more polarised society. Whoever in power should have the courage to be inclusive and bring people together,” Chan said during a speech at a Foreign Correspondents’ Club event. “Arthur simply is not the type of person for that job.”
Commenting on his own failed promotion, he said: “It does not require a PhD to conclude there must be political interference.”
Chan did not say whether the interference came from the top role of chancellor, which is held by the chief executive. But he questioned the need to continue to make the city’s head automatically the university’s chancellor.
“There is no reason why this practice cannot be changed as it is inimical to academic freedom and institutional autonomy,” Chan said. One opportunity, he said, would be for the new university after the Institute of Education’s elevation to “initiate amendments to remove this abnormality”.
The amendment does not involve any public expenditure or government structure, and therefore its proposal does not require the consent of the chief executive, he added.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1889254/johannes-chan-arthur-li-not-type-person-lead-hku
