HKU academics demand to know if CY Leung blocked honorary degrees
University of Hong Kong academics have demanded that Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying give them a straight answer on whether he has ever vetoed nominations for honorary degrees.
University of Hong Kong academics have demanded that Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying give them a straight answer on whether he has ever vetoed nominations for honorary degrees.
The Academic Staff Association (ASA) of HKU wrote to Leung, who is the university’s chancellor, days after he declined to give a clear response to the allegation that he had blocked recommendations for honorary degrees made by an HKU committee.
“The Academic Staff Association of HKU and many HKU staff are extremely disturbed by the news that your office had removed or vetoed some of the names on the honorary degrees list recommended by the honorary degrees committee of the university,” the letter, seen by the , said.
The association warned such action not only denies HKU the responsibility to govern its own affairs but also interferes in the university’s academic freedom.
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“On behalf of ASA, we urge you to clarify with HKU staff if you, as the chancellor of HKU, did or did not cross out or remove or veto some of the names on the list as recommended by the honorary degrees committee of HKU,” the letter added.
