6th January 2024 – (Hong Kong) The Chairman of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) Council, Priscilla Wong Pui-sze, has come under fierce criticism for allegedly undermining the institution’s century-old academic autonomy. This controversy erupted following her sudden approval of six interim vice presidents without consulting HKU President Zhang Xiang, who voiced strong objections to the move.
The appointments, which bypassed traditional governance protocols, have incited outrage among alumni and former Council members. Notably, ex-Secretary for Education Fanny Law Fan Chiu-fun joined others in penning a joint letter expressing a profound lack of confidence in Wong’s leadership. They have called upon HKU’s Chancellor and Chief Executive, John Lee Ka-chiu, to take decisive action to resolve the ongoing crisis.
Choy So-yuk, a deputy to the National People’s Congress, emphasised the need to scrutinise the legality and reasonableness of these appointments. She raised concerns over whether the new procedures have compromised the authority of the university president, thereby affecting the institution’s governance.
In an email to staff, students, and alumni dated 5th June, President Zhang lamented that “HKU has been enshrouded by internal struggles” which have significantly hindered its operations and reputation. He asserted that the Council’s appointments “violated established procedures and disregarded the fundamentals of good governance” as the nominations were neither recommended by nor consulted with him. Zhang stressed that prior communication and discussion are essential for making such senior appointments, highlighting that the University management was not informed of these decisions.
The alumni’s letter stated that the governing Council is primarily responsible for guidance and regulatory compliance oversight. It should not directly involve itself in administrative affairs. They argued that the collaboration and mutual respect between the Council chair and the university president have been integral to HKU’s prestigious international standing, and this delicate balance must be maintained.
The Council’s decision to pass the interim appointments on 28th May saw Richard Wong Yue-chim, formerly the interim provost and deputy vice-chancellor, demoted to vice president and pro-vice-chancellor (institutional advancement). Chair Professor of Chemistry Vivian Yam Wing-wah has assumed the provost role. Additionally, medical dean Lau Chak-sing and Chair Professor of Economics Cai Hongbin have been appointed as vice president (health) and vice president (business), respectively. Meanwhile, Ian Holliday and Max Shen Zuojun retain their positions as vice president (teaching and learning) and vice president (research).