University of Hong Kong head fights back after being kept in dark about surprise reshuffle
- In email seen by Post, president Xiang Zhang says council’s move ‘disregarded the fundamentals of good governance’
The head of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) has openly fought back for the first time after being kept in the dark about an earlier surprise reshuffle of his senior management team by the chairwoman of the institution’s governing council.
In a Wednesday email seen by the Post addressing colleagues, students and alumni, president Xiang Zhang said the council’s move “disregarded the fundamentals of good governance”.
“These actions have severely undermined the century-old academic autonomy upon which the University of Hong Kong is built,” he said. “The stability and development of our university, as well as the reputation of Hong Kong, are now at risk, not to mention the negative impact on our efforts to attract global talents.”
Zhang, who is understood to be seeking legal advice on the proper procedures for selecting candidates for his management team, added it was his duty to “uphold the century-old traditions, mechanisms and procedures that are fundamental to the smooth functioning of the university”.
The Post earlier reported the council, chaired by Priscilla Wong Pui-sze, voted in a meeting in May to endorse the appointment of several interim vice-president positions, without consulting Zhang beforehand.
“The University of Hong Kong Ordinance and statutes grant the authority to the president to appoint temporary senior management officers,” Zhang said. “Neither were the nominations for these interim vice-presidents recommended by me, nor was I consulted about them.”
His email started with an announcement that HKU had achieved its highest spot ever in the latest edition of the world university rankings compiled by Britain-based education information firm Quacquarelli Symonds, which Zhang said left him “thrilled”.
“This remarkable achievement is a testament to the unwavering dedication and excellence exhibited by our colleagues, students and alumni over the years,” he said. “I extend my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for your invaluable contributions.”
He continued to stress the importance of stability for HKU’s development and said it had been “enshrouded by internal struggles that have hindered” the university’s operation, reputation and its future standing.
He was referring also to the six-month investigation Wong ordered over his alleged misconduct and mismanagement stemming from some anonymous complaints. He was cleared of wrongdoings in April.
Apart from naming several new interim vice-presidents, the reshuffle decision made by the council effectively demotes Zhang’s right-hand man, deputy vice-chancellor Richard Wong Yue-chim, who has been serving as the school’s interim provost since 2019.
A university press release showed Vivian Yam Wing-wah, a professor at the science faculty, had replaced Richard Wong after being appointed as interim provost and deputy vice-chancellor.
A source close to the university president earlier said Zhang had told the council and its chairwoman Wong that the reshuffle could face a legal challenge in the form of a judicial review.
The Post has reached out to Wong for comment.
