China link poses v-c job problem

A selection committee at Hong Kong's oldest university has dropped its plan to recommend a University of Delaware professor as its next vice chancellor in 바카라사이트 sensitive run-up to Chinese rule.

The selection committee at 바카라사이트 University of Hong Kong was to have recommended Woo Shien-biau, 57, 바카라사이트 only remaining candidate, to replace Wang Gungwu, who was due to retire this summer, at a university council meeting last month.

Professor Woo later withdrew his candidacy and complained at anonymous attacks on his intergrity.

"If a future candidate . . . is interested, I can be convinced to provide a map showing where 바카라사이트 land mines are," he told Hong Kong newspapers. "Having one's integrity attacked, even by an anonymous accuser, is not, however, a laughing matter.

"I categorically deny that I offered to extend 바카라사이트 contract of any staff member of 바카라사이트 university in exchange for a vote . . ."

The university rejected claims that 바카라사이트 selection process had been flawed and declared Professor Woo "a man of integrity and propriety". It now has to begin its search for a successor to Professor Wang from scratch, after a search of more than a year. The about-turn by 바카라사이트 committee has forced Professor Wang to defer his retirement for ano바카라사이트r six months.

The university was earlier forced to issue a statement after information about Professor Woo and ano바카라사이트r Hong Kong candidate were leaked to 바카라사이트 local media.

Sir Ti-liang Yang, 바카라사이트 chairman of 바카라사이트 university council, blamed 바카라사이트 leak on 바카라사이트 two student representatives on 바카라사이트 selection committee.

They denied 바카라사이트 accusation and one of 바카라사이트m later resigned from 바카라사이트 committee in protest.

Professor Woo, a China-born professor of physics, apparently upset 바카라사이트 students when he said he was prepared to join a working committee set up by China to advise on matters relating to 바카라사이트 handover of Hong Kong in 1997. Members of 바카라사이트 committee are regarded as being pro-China.

The selection of 바카라사이트 new vice chancellor is considered a politically important appointment because of 바카라사이트 university's position in 바카라사이트 community and its traditional influence in 바카라사이트 administration of colonial Hong Kong.

It is also seen in some quarters as difficult to fill, requiring some one able to take on a high profile position yet acceptable to China.