Press statement on Legco discussion on School of Law incident

With regard to the discussion at the Special Meeting of the Legislative Council’s Panel on Education on 2 April on the appeal for contract renewal by some teaching staff of the School of Law, City University of Hong Kong would like to make a statement as follows:

President of City University of Hong Kong, Professor H K Chang, reiterated that the University is an autonomous statutory academic institution. It has in place a set of stringent procedures which govern staffing matters, including an independent appeal mechanism to handle appeal applications. “The recent Appeal Committee’s conclusions on contract renewal matters in the School of Law have confirmed the effectiveness and fairness of the University’s existing staffing and appeal system. I have openly stated that the University accepted the decisions of the Appeal Committee, and would duly follow up on the flaws identified in the application of some of the existing procedures,” Professor Chang said.

Professor Chang added that in view of the concerns of the public and some staff members and students over the administration of the School of Law, and to enhance the transparency and accountability of the University, he would propose the setting up of an independent committee to review and follow up on recent happenings in the School at the next Council meeting on 15 April 2002. Professor Chang also said he would be meeting with the School’s staff and students again shortly to further enhance communications.