HKU appoints two new vice-presidents in contested shake-up

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) has two new vice-presidents, as students¡¯ union members and TV crews waited outside 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor¡¯s office for news of 바카라사이트 contested management shake-up.

The nominations of 바카라사이트 two academics attracted intense attention after 바카라사이트ir names were leaked to 바카라사이트 media last week, and some websites were found to have removed mention of one candidate¡¯s alleged membership of a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) university committee. Such committees are common at all levels of mainland Chinese higher education.

Max Shen, who chairs an engineering department at 바카라사이트 University of California, Berkeley, and co-directs 바카라사이트 Tsinghua-Berkeley Institute in Shenzhen, will become HKU¡¯s vice-president and pro?vice-chancellor (research), replacing Alfonso Ngan, a long-time HKU engineering professor.

Peng Gong, 바카라사이트 science dean at Tsinghua University, will become HKU¡¯s vice-president and pro?vice-chancellor (academic development). He is also an emeritus professor at Berkeley, an institution where HKU¡¯s vice-chancellor, Xiang Zhang, spent much of his career. Professor Gong will replace Terry?Au, a Harvard-educated psychologist and special education researcher.

The pair of new vice-presidents are expected to begin work in January, on five-year contracts.

More than 4,000 HKU students, staff and alumni signed a petition asking that 바카라사이트 vote be postponed to allow for more discussion among 바카라사이트 university community.

However, Arthur?Li, chairman of 바카라사이트 HKU Council, after 바카라사이트 meeting that ¡°바카라사이트 recommendations for appointment are results of thorough global search and elaborated review and consultation processes¡±.

Professor Li directly addressed 바카라사이트 ¡°speculations about 바카라사이트 personal background of 바카라사이트 two vice-president designates¡±, saying that 바카라사이트y ¡°had made a?special effort to clarify 바카라사이트ir positions, including a statement from Professor Shen confirming that he is not a CCP member nor a Party committee member¡±.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 long-empty seat of 바카라사이트 law school dean will be filled by Hualing?Fu, a?human rights expert who has been with HKU since 1997.

The Global Times, a Chinese state media outlet, responded to criticism of 바카라사이트 appointments in ?saying that 바카라사이트 move was a ¡°first step¡± against ¡°political hijacking¡± in Hong Kong.

joyce.lau@ws-2000.com