Read More
If the staff and alumni of the Chinese University of Hong Kong have been divided on a number of issues, lawmaker Tommy Cheung Yu-yan's private bill to downsize the university's council has helped to restore unity in the university.
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT
Perhaps council members Kelvin Yeung Yu-ming, Enders Lam Wai-hung and Heung Shui-fai - who initiated a signature petition against the private bill which, in addition to Cheung, is also sponsored by two other lawmakers - may consider expressing thanks to Cheung for helping the university achieve what otherwise would have been impossible.
Unity is a blessing not only for a nation but also an organization.
It may be curious that, so far, the government appears to be trying to steer clear of the mud wrestling.
Although Cheung, a main proponent of the bill, has boasted to the media that he has reached a consensus with Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on a need to reform the CUHK Council, it would be imprudent to draw a conclusion from that to declare Lee is supportive of the bill.
What has been funny so far is that no one has ever disputed the need to reform the council - even the council members have said it is necessary to do so.
The rift is over something rather trivial.
The bill presented by Cheung's group represents only one probable solution. There are other alternatives, including a similar one proposed by a special working group led by former Hong Kong Monetary Authority chief executive Norman Chan Tak-lam.
Is there really any significant difference between the two proposals? Nope.
Perhaps it is also because of this that the government has avoided indicating its preference. As government adviser Lau Siu-kai put it, the bickering is only about some bill details that have little impact on society.
At a time when Lee's administration is already confronted with a myriad economic challenges, from a sluggish property market to continuing brain drains, the government simply cannot afford to get involved in all-consuming mud wrestling.
In particular, former chief executive Leung Chun-ying has been involved in the row. When he was chief executive, Lee was the undersecretary for security.
In his latest shot, Leung continued to condemn the university's council and asked the Legislative Council to pass the bill without delay.
The mud wrestling aside, it's amazing to see so many prominent names included in the petition. Maybe the list alone, which has now increased to more than 1,600 names, should suffice to show that CUHK has always been an important cradle of top talent for the city.
Let's go through a handful of the names.
Nicholas Kwan Ka-ming graduated from the university in 1978 and is now deputy head of the chief executive's policy unit.
Rudolf Wu Shiu-sun, a 1971 graduate, is an authority in oceanology, while former Consumer Council chief executive Pamela Chan Wong-shui graduated in 1968.
It is unusual to see such prominent figures including their names in a petition.
So, as Legco's bill committee meets again today, should it also give weight to the pleas from so many outstanding individuals?
