Three independent experts are to look into how the University of Hong Kong is governed. Photo: RTHK
After being mired in controversy for months, the University of Hong Kong’s governing body announced on Tuesday the names of the three outsiders it is bringing in to look at how the institution is run.
The Chancellor of the University of York, Professor Sir Malcolm Grant, will chair the review panel, with the other two members being Harvard University professor William Kirby and former High Court judge Peter Van Tu Nguyen.
A report from them is expected by the end of the year.
HKU council member Professor Eric Cheung said he thought the panel would consider whether it is right for Hong Kong's chief executive to be chancellor of the university.
Meetings of the HKU Council have descended into chaos in recent months, with students deeply unhappy over what they see as interference by the Chief Executive, CY Leung, in the institution’s governance. They question whether the territory's chief executive should have the power to appoint so many of the members of the governing body.
The university was also dogged by controversy for months over its failure to appoint pro-democracy law scholar Johannes Chan as a pro-vice chancellor, despite him being the only candidate shortlisted for the position.
Students were further angered by the appointment of former education minister Arthur Li as chairman of the HKU Council. Thousands of people took to the streets in January to protest against the move.
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1256768-20160426.htm
