University of Hong Kong students could face disciplinary punishment such as fines, suspension or even expulsion if they conduct acts harming the university's reputation.

Under a proposed amendment to the university statute, "conduct considered to be bringing the university into disrepute" will be added to the list of complaints to be brought before the disciplinary committee by the vice chancellor in a bid to regulate its students' behavior.

The proposal was endorsed on Tuesday by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, who is the chancellor.

A paper submitted to the Legislative Council shows the amendment is expected to be gazetted today, followed by a legislative process on Wednesday.

It is expected the new rule will be effective on October 20, if no objections are raised by legislators.

HKU said similar provisions existed in many local and overseas institutions, including the University of Birmingham, University College London and the University of Edinburgh in Britain.

However, it did not define in the paper what would constitute disrepute to the university.

The composition of the disciplinary committee is set to face changes should the new statute gets approved - with more members. Student representatives will be appointed by the teaching staff.

Before the amendment, the disciplinary committee comprised three members of the school's senate and two students from the student panel.

The senate is formed by professors and teaching staff, while the student panel is formed by members of the student union council.

Both the senate and the student panel consist of 20 members.

HKU also proposed substituting the term senate panel with teacher panel.

The teacher panel will consist of 30 teachers appointed by the senate. Ten of them would be chairmen of the faculty boards, while the remaining 20 members would be lecturers nominated by the faculties.

For the student panel, the student representatives would no longer be appointed by the student union council. Instead, the student representatives would be chosen by election.

For each faculty, three student representatives are elected. They must include at least one undergraduate and one postgraduate student.

Three students would be elected as representatives of the faculty, forming a student panel of 30 members.

The senate would appoint two among 30 members to sit on the disciplinary committee.

HKU said the arrangement would enable more teaching staff and students to take part in disciplinary affairs, as well as boost the efficiency of handling complaints.

The amended statute says when a student is convicted of harming the university's reputation, that person might face punishment such as a fine, suspension or expulsion.

joanna.yeung@singtaonewscorp.com

HKU changing student rules to prevent harm to its reputation