The University of Hong Kong's Faculty of Law has defended former dean Johannes Chan Man-mun in the "strongest possible terms" against criticisms by HKU Council members who rejected his appointment as pro vice chancellor.
The governing council last Tuesday voted by 12 to eight against appointing pro-democrat Chan to the position despite being the only candidate recommended by the search committee.
HKU Students' Union president Billy Fung Jing- en, the undergraduate representative on the council, breached confidentiality rules to disclose what pro- government council members had said during the meeting.
In response to Fung's disclosure that Arthur Li Kwok-cheung claimed Chan was made the longest- serving dean of faculty, from 2002 to 2014, because of being a "nice guy," the faculty said such speculation was "groundless."
Fung said members rejected Chan because he did not have a PhD and was not capable. The faculty said colleagues respect Chan for "his excellent leadership and management of the faculty" on top of him being "nice." Chan was also praised for his "tireless efforts" that led "the faculty [to achieve] high rankings in the QS World University Ranking" during his term as dean.
Council chairman Edward Leong Che-hung insisted that the decision made was collective and with rationality and for the long-term interest of the university.
Leong said he did not believe any political intervention affected the voting.
Meanwhile, a group of HKU alumni expressed their disappointment with the council by protesting outside the university's library yesterday afternoon, asking Beijing to get its hands off the campus and demanding that Leong resign.
Leong said: "I don't see the rationale behind asking me to step down, I have been fair as a chairman."
