CUHK proposes new grounds to remove leaders, replace alumni body

“The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has proposed amendments to laws governing the institution that would allow university heads to be sacked on new grounds, including “misconduct, incompetence, and inefficiency.” Students at the Chinese University of Hong Kong on August, 31, 2023. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. The University Council, the school’s governing body, said in an email addressed to alumni on Wednesday that it also proposed replacing the Convocation, an alumni representation body, with an Alumni Advisory Board. The CUHK Ordinance, drafted in 1976 and now more than 50 years old, is an “antiquated piece of legislation,” it said. “The University Council has therefore decided that it is now time to overhaul the CUHK Ordinance by modernizing and streamlining the structure and contents of the legislation.” The CUHK council proposed that the grounds for removal of officers, including pro-vice-chancellors and vice presidents, be aligned with those of other publicly funded universities in Hong Kong, “which is to include the ground of ‘misconduct, incompetence, [and] inefficiency’ in addition to the general term of good cause.” It also proposed raising the appointment threshold for pro-vice-chancellors and vice presidents from a simple majority to at least two-thirds of voting council members. Votes in favour should constitute no less than half of the council’s total membership. See also: Chinese University of Hong Kong college student unions suspend operations over school’s recognition The two-thirds threshold will also apply to the removal of the vice-chancellor, pro-vice-chancellor, and vice-presidents. Alumni body Noting that there are some 300,000 members of the CUHK Convocation, the council said it “has proved to be a near impossible logistical task” to convene annual general meetings in accordance with current requirements. CUHK graduates celebrate at the university on November 9, 2023. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. There have been significant difficulties since 2020 in conducting the meetings “in an orderly manner,” the council said. The last annual meeting at which elections were successfully concluded was in July 2022, and it has also failed to elect its standing committee since 2023. “The existing framework no longer allows the Convocation to effectively fulfil its intended functions and contribution – a reality that will only intensify as our graduate community continues to expand.” It is “unrealistic” to expect a reversal, the council said. “It is therefore proposed that the Convocation be replaced by a new CUHK Alumni Advisory Board, leveraging and empowering the extensive and established alumni association networks.” The board will be made up of members nominated by “established alumni associations” and appointed by the University Council. The council had previously taken steps to reduce the Convocation’s influence by reducing the number of representatives it could have on the university’s governing body from three to one. In February, two CUHK graduates lost a legal bid to challenge their disqualifications from running in the Convocation Standing Committee election in February 2023. Lawmaker Bill Tang, who sits on the CUHK council, told local media that there is “no shortage of avenues for alumni to engage with university affairs,” pointing to alumni links maintained by the university’s colleges and its Alumni Affairs Office.

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