A committee of HKU students say they will boycott classes from Wednesday. Photo: RTHK
A panel formed by students of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) said they will begin a boycott of classes from Wednesday to press for changes in the makeup of its governing council.
One of the members of the students committee which decided on the boycott, Yvonne Leung, said they plan to at least carry on until next Tuesday – when the council is scheduled to have its monthly regular meeting.
Leung would not estimate how many students will join their action. She also said no teachers have expressed intention to take part in the boycott, but added they will continue to lobby for teaching staff’s support.
The students demand that the new council chairman Arthur Li set up a review panel on the HKU Ordinance which automatically name the Chief Executive as HKU’s chancellor.
They say this should change, adding employees of the school and students together should make up at least half of the council’s membership, and that the CE should not be given the power to appoint anyone to the council.
Leung made it clear that the action is targeted at changing the governing system, but not at Arthur Li’s chairmanship.
Aside from the class boycott, the students say they will hold large-scale demonstrations and public forum on campus.
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1236640-20160118.htm
