Five new members in after CUHK council fires vice president Eric Ng

The council of the Chinese University of Hong Kong has added five new members on Thursday, including vice-president for education Poon Wai-yin and former chief executive of the Hospital Authority Kowloon East Cluster Luk Che-chung. 

The other three are Sonia Cheng Chi-man, executive director of the New World Development; Peter Kung, a National Committee member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference; and Albert Wong Hak-keung, CEO of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corp. 

The five additions pushed the member number of the council to 23. It still falls short after the latest revamp shrunk the council size from 55 to 34. 

This came as the council convened its first-ever meeting on Wednesday since the revamp and fired vice-president for administration Eric Ng Shu-pui with immediate effect. 

Council chairman John Chai Yat-chiu said Ng’s contract was terminated immediately by paying cash in lieu of notice, adding that “the council no longer has confidence in Ng’s ability or willingness to support the work of the council.” 

It is understood that Ng is now seeking legal advice before taking any further actions. 

It is also understood that the council will convene another meeting next month. A source said: “The council can do many important things” when asked if there will be discussions on impeaching president Rocky Tuan Sung-chi. 

Yet, another source believes the council will not handle matters related to Tuan in the short term.