Beijing-loyalist on funds panel sparks protest
A politically outspoken executive councillor has been named to the body that advises on university funding, raising strong opposition from tertiary educators who see the appointment as a threat to their autonomy.
A politically outspoken executive councillor has been named to the body that advises on university funding, raising strong opposition from tertiary educators who see the appointment as a threat to their autonomy.
Beijing-loyalist Cheung Chi-kong, 53, a supporter of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, was appointed to the University Grants Committee for a three-year term on Monday but the decision was not announced until yesterday.
Earlier reports said Leung planned to appoint Cheung in January but stopped because critics had accused him of having a "red" background.
Professional Teachers' Union president Fung Wai-wah described the appointment yesterday as "furtive and disrespectful".
But Cheung came out fighting, saying: "I don't know which part of me is 'red'. Produce the evidence if you can."
I don't know which part of me is 'red'. Produce the evidence if you can
Cheung , executive director of the One Country Two Systems Research Institute, was criticised for his attacks on student group Scholarism during the campaign last year to have the national-education curriculum scrapped.
