Situation vacant: University of Hong Kong council chairman departs with government still yet to name his successor

The government has not yet announced who will be become the next chairman of the University of Hong Kong’s governing council, despite the incumbent’s term ending today.

The latest government gazette published today did not include any news about appointments to the HKU council.

The council chairman is appointed by the chief executive under the University of Hong Kong ordinance. Incumbent chairman Dr Leong Che-hung’s term ends today.

Former education minister Professor Arthur Li Kwok-cheung has been hotly tipped as Leung’s successor. Li, a current HKU council member, has been a controversial figure for many students and alumni, who have vowed to stage another wave of protests against his appointment as council chairman.

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Ip Kin-yuen, convener of the HKU Alumni Concern Group, said leaving the position of the council chairman vacant was a “poor arrangement” but still was better than appointing Li.

“[Appointing Li] would lead to further split and confrontations,” Ip said during an RTHK talk show.