Group to establish facts and won't probe specific incidents

Michael Shum

The investigation and study group formed to resolve the University of Hong Kong's internal conflict will clarify facts and facilitate communication, but will not probe specific incidents, says Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin.

It comes as sources told The Standard that the university's governing council will hold a meeting on Wednesday to continue discussions on mismanagement allegations against university president Zhang Xiang.

Speaking before a Legislative Council meeting yesterday, Choi said the group is hoping to clarify facts and understand the differences between Zhang and council chairwoman Priscilla Wong Pui-sze, facilitate internal communications and provide advice.

"The group was not established to probe and publish an investigation report into specific incidents. We are trying to respond to the objectives. Communication and understanding the facts are paramount," Choi said.

"The group will take reference to good practices from local and overseas universities."

Choi said the University Grants Committee, tasked with advising the government on university financing, will review whether HKU has followed the university accountability agreement - signed between the UGC and universities to enhance accountability and transparency.

She reassured that the group, consisting of UGC chairman Tim Lui Tim-leung and Permanent Secretary for Education Michelle Li Mei-sheung, is credible.

"Both of them already have a role to play in monitoring universities to fulfill their social responsibility and accountability requirements," Choi said.

She said the group will try to comprehend the situation through meetings with relevant people, and that the government does not have a deadline for the task.

"The most important thing is to cooperate with the actual operational needs of the university. The group hopes to ensure that the university can operate smoothly during the summer holidays and the commencement of a new academic year," Choi said.

Society has high expectations of UGC-funded universities, especially their contributions through generations, as well as the hard-earned achievements by school management, she added.

"I believe that the group can help HKU improve its governance and mount a concerted effort to push the university to achieve further successes."

It is understood that the council will continue discussions on allegations against Zhang in a "routine" meeting on Wednesday. Council meetings are usually held on the last Tuesday of each month.

Some council members, however, said they are unaware of the Wednesday meeting and have not received any agenda as of yet.

"The discussions will follow up on the items left on the agenda after the previous meeting. We have discussed manpower last time, so we move on to finance and so on," sources said.

Another source brushed off speculations about additional accusations against Zhang.

There is talk circulating among council members that Zhang met the new interim vice president appointees, who he said were appointed without consulting him. Zhang also said he would not recognize their appointments.

A council member said that if Zhang will not recognize the appointees, this behavior is "a defiance of the council and could lead to his dismissal."

A five-member panel already cleared Zhang following whistleblower e-mails accusing him of misconduct in October of last year.

The Chinese-American physicist was accused of mishandling funds and hiring a head-hunter without following procedures, among other allegations.

michael.shum@singtaonewscorp.com