Kenneth Lau
Monday, January 04, 2016
About 3,000 University of Hong Kong students, alumni and supporters mostly wearing black marched from Central to Government House to protest against the appointment of Arthur Li Kwok- cheung as chairman of the institution's governing council despite opposition.
Wearing black ribbons on their wrists, they chanted "No Chief Executive to be our chancellors" and "Safeguard academic autonomy," while calling for a stop to the chief executive automatically becoming university chancellor.
The HKU protesters were also joined by staff, alumni and students of higher institutions representing 20 groups, including the Professional Teachers' Union, Scholars' Alliance for Academic Freedom, and the Chinese University student union. Police put the number at 830 at the peak.
The protest organizer, HKU Alumni Concern Group convener and education lawmaker Ip Kin- yuen, said they will set up a platform for stakeholders to monitor and keep an eagle eye on Li's actions in the council.
Some protesters had a verbal fight with pro- Beijing "Treasure Group" members at the back entrance of Government House. The two sides were separated by a dozen metal barricades.
The HKU defenders tied their black ribbons on the metal fences outside Government House before they left at 3pm.
Li's appointment was confirmed by the government on Thursday after a local, Tsang Hing-kwong, discovered a gazette was prematurely uploaded online. Li, 70, the former Chinese University vice chancellor, is dubbed "King Arthur" or "The Tsar" for his tough style while secretary for education from 2002-2007.
Ip said Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying's appointment of Li ignored overwhelming opposing from staff, students and alumni, adding he was intentionally tightening controls over publicly funded tertiary institutions through the appointments.
"Basically, the appointment was not for HKU's good," said Ip.
"We denounce the appointment, which was made without listening to opinions."
Occupy Central co-organizers Benny Tai Yiu- ting of HKU and Chan Kin-man of CUHK also attended the protest.
Tai said the appointment showed that it was not only HKU but the whole of Hong Kong that now had a problem with governance. He believes genuine universal suffrage is the only solution.
Chan said Leung is insisting on being the enemy of public opinion.
HKU Students' Union president Billy Fung Jing-en said his participation is aimed at showing dissatisfaction with Li's appointment.
On RTHK's Letter to Hong Kong, Civic Party leader Alan Leong Kah-kit said: "The power of the powerless will overwhelm [Leung], and he will not have the last laugh. I see his recent irrational and schizophrenic behavior as evidence of his desperation and showing he is already a spent force."
A government spokesman said Li's appointment was based on merits and the development needs of higher education.
kenneth.lau@singtaonewscorp.com
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=30&art_id=164784&sid=45848765&con_type=1
