Students vow not to storm next HKU meeting 'to avoid shifting focus from key appointment issue'

Students at the University of Hong Kong are not planning to storm the next meeting of the university's governing body for fear of diverting attention from what they claim is a politically motivated delay in the appointment of pro-democracy professor Johannes Chan Man-mun to a key leadership role.

Billy Fung Jing-en, president of the university's student union, said in a newspaper article yesterday that the union's action at the HKU council meeting last week had obscured the issue.

"The focus of society has shifted to the chaos. The ridiculous decision and the systemic issues of the council have been neglected," Fung wrote in . "As it is hard to maintain order at the venue, and to avoid losing the focus of the discussions, the student union is unlikely to initiate a protest at the council meeting again."

On July 28, a group of students stormed the council meeting after members voted down a motion to stop delaying the pro-vice-chancellor appointment. A search committee recommended Chan to the position in May.

One member collapsed onto the floor and was hospitalised, but it is unclear whether he hurt himself or was pushed to the ground. Another was stopped in her car when she was leaving and was also sent to hospital after complaining of feeling unwell.

Fung maintained that those who hurled bottles at council members and those who acted aggressively in a university car park were not HKU students, as other protesters were also present.