Benny Tai in crunch day at HKU

The University of Hong Kong governing council is set to decide tomorrow whether Benny Tai Yiu-ting will keep his job as associate professor of law.

Tai, 55, was handed a 16-month prison sentence last April after being convicted on two charges of causing a public nuisance relating to Occupy Central in 2014.

He is currently on bail pending an appeal to overturn his conviction and sentence.

The HKU started a probe in January headed by deputy vice-chancellor Richard Wong Yue-chim to see if there was "good cause" to fire Tai.

Dismissal would have required a ruling that Tai was unable to perform efficiently the duties of his office, neglect of duty or "misconduct in an official or a private capacity."

The university's senate decided, however that although Tai committed misconduct his actions did not amount to grounds for dismissal.

But the final decision will rest on the council, headed by Arthur Li Kwok-cheung.

On that, sources told Sing Tao Daily, The Standard's sister paper, that the senate's finding did not mean Tai would be able to keep his tenured position.

"The senate is composed of teaching staff members," Sing Tao was told. "Their point of view might not be the same as members of the council, who come from different sectors of society.

"The senate only reflects the opinion of the teaching staff It is not unusual to see the council disagree with an opinion [given] by the senate.

"If the majority of council members disagree with the senate [its opinion] might be overturned in its final decision."

According to HKU procedures, Tai can appeal to the chancellor, who is Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, against a decision by the council.

Tai refused to comment on the issue, citing confidentiality requirements, while the university said it would not be right for it to comment on the case to ensure the fairness of the internal procedures.

Meanwhile, Lingnan University economics professor Ho Lok-sang accused Tai of putting Beijing on the spot and possibly setting up "bloodshed" by organizing pro-democracy camp primaries to seek winning candidates for legislative elections.

Tai organized the primary races, which this month attracted more than 600,000 potential voters, in hopes of the pro-democracy camp gaining an unprecedented majority in the Legislative Council.Lam could then be forced to agree to protest movement demands by a threat to veto the budget.

"I find Tai's strategy most disturbing," Ho said on radio yesterday. "His strategy is pointing to bloodshed" and threatening to make the central government "jump off the cliff. Why would this be desirable?

"I can accept people holding on to their beliefs for whatever reason. That is their prerogative. But I cannot accept people proposing and promoting a strategy that points to social unrest and bloodshed and not offering a vision of how Hong Kong will fare better."

Ho also said he was "dismayed that many Hongkongers subscribe to this strategy, as suggested by the enthusiastic participation in the pan-democrat primaries election."