HKU Council to ensure a fair and due process on management affairs, says Council chair

The chairman of the Council of University of Hong Kong (HKU) stated on Wednesday that the Council members did receive some anonymous complaints concerning the management of the university, and the convening of a special meeting on the matter was adjourned to next Monday (Oct 9) due to a number of members were unable to attend.

Priscilla Wong Pui-sze, the chairman of the HKU Council, said all the 24 members of the Council – including the university's president and vice-chancellor Zhang Xiang – received several emails concerning the alleged misconduct accusations laid against Zhang last Wednesday (Sep 27).

Zhang was accused of intervening in the selection process of the dean of the Faculty of Medicine as well as the pro-vice-chancellor of the university, while also being blamed for having misused school funds during the renovations of the university's facilities and bypassing the school council when handling certain donations.

Wong said she immediately called for a special meeting according to the whistle-blowing procedures to discuss the mismanagement allegations. However, as a number of Council members were unable to attend the meeting, it was then adjourned to the following Monday.

She emphasized that the Council would deal with the affairs fairly and impartially in accordance with the policies and procedures of HKU, including giving an opportunity to the person against whom allegations are made to respond and informing the person of the outcome of the investigation.