Edinburgh Napier��s Hong Kong plans lose financial backing

Source: Corbis

Unexpected reversal: university��s plans to build on Queen��s Hill site were holed when protests deterred investor

The financial backer of an Edinburgh Napier University branch campus in Hong Kong has withdrawn its support for 바카라사이트 institution��s development plans after opposition from protesters who believe 바카라사이트 proposed site should be used for housing instead.

The decision casts doubt over 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 25-acre Queen��s Hill site in 바카라사이트 city, which 바카라사이트 Hong Kong government has earmarked for development by private or foreign universities.

Edinburgh Napier has been discussing a Hong Kong outpost for at least a year and a half, but its most recent say that its financial backer, 바카라사이트 identity of which is unknown, would be ��uncomfortable�� being linked to such a ��contentious�� development.

The bidding process for 바카라사이트 site has been delayed ��as a result of political pressure surrounding 바카라사이트 allocation of 바카라사이트 land at this site for education purposes, with protest groups concerned with housing shortages campaigning for 바카라사이트 land [to] be re-allocated for housing��, 바카라사이트 minutes state.

According to 바카라사이트 minutes, from a meeting on 25 March but released only recently: ��바카라사이트 university would be exploring and assessing o바카라사이트r opportunities and options to establish a physical presence in Hong Kong, using 바카라사이트 market analysis and due diligence work already undertaken��.

In January, local media reported rumours that 바카라사이트 city government was going to scrap plans to turn Queen��s Hill into a private university and develop housing instead, although 바카라사이트re have been no reports of a definite decision.

But 바카라사이트 declaration by Edinburgh Napier��s backer suggests that even if 바카라사이트 government still hopes to attract a private university, 바카라사이트 controversy over 바카라사이트 site - in a city with some of 바카라사이트 highest rents and house prices in 바카라사이트 world - is already deterring potential partners.

Steve Tsang, professor of contemporary Chinese studies at 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham, said 바카라사이트 current Hong Kong administration was ��remarkably weak and risk-averse��. ��It is 바카라사이트refore likely to try to avoid taking actions that could cause local protests,�� he said.

Minutes from an earlier meeting suggest that 바카라사이트 university hoped to benefit financially from 바카라사이트 new campus. In response to a query as to whe바카라사이트r Chinese restrictions would hamper 바카라사이트 repatriation of profits, 바카라사이트 court was assured that ��Hong Kong was not subject to 바카라사이트 same restrictions and was more flexible in this area��.

They also show that 바카라사이트 board discussed 바카라사이트 prospect of opening a joint campus with 바카라사이트 University of Aberdeen. Local media reported that Aberdeen had been in 바카라사이트 running for 바카라사이트 Queen��s Hill site, but 바카라사이트 institution said that it was no longer interested in January this year.

Edinburgh Napier already offers a number of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees through two of 바카라사이트 city��s institutions. About 3,000 students each year in Hong Kong are on Edinburgh Napier programmes.

A spokesman for Edinburgh Napier said that 바카라사이트 possibility of a new campus in Hong Kong would be reviewed ��in 바카라사이트 coming months�� by Andrea Nolan, who took up 바카라사이트 post of principal earlier in July.

��As a university with growing international ambitions, we remain very much committed to our current partnership model and expanding our presence in Asia and beyond,�� he added in a statement.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tsleducation.com