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LCQ9: Members of University Councils
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    Following is a question by the Hon Cheung Man-kwong and a written reply by the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Professor Arthur K C Li, in the Legislative Council today (March 7):

Question:

     The Hong Kong Institute of Education Ordinance (Cap. 444) stipulates that the composition of the Council of the Hong Kong Institute of Education ("HKIEd") shall include at least one but not more than three public officers appointed by the Chief Executive.  In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a)  of the reasons for enacting the aforesaid provision, and whether it has assessed if the provision contravenes the principle of autonomy of tertiary institutions;

(b)  in the form of a table, whether there are similar provisions in the relevant legislation of other tertiary institutions and whether public officers have in fact been appointed to the Council concerned; if the Government has allowed any of the Council seats of other institutions for public officers to be left vacant, of the reasons for the inconsistent practice in respect of HKIEd and other institutions, and whether it has assessed if this practice constitutes discrimination against HKIEd; and

(c)  whether it will repeal the aforesaid provision by way of legislation or cease to make such appointment; if it will, when it will be implemented; if not, of the reasons for that?


Reply:

Madam President,
 
(a) and (c)  In view of the objective and historical background of its establishment, and the future development needs of the Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd), the Hong Kong Institute of Education Ordinance provides that the HKIEd Council shall consist of at least one but not more than three public officers appointed by the Chief Executive.  However, as the HKIEd develops, the Chief Executive now appoints one instead of three public officers to serve on the Council, namely, the Secretary for Education and Manpower or his representative.  As HKIEd is the major teacher education institution, and the education policies and measures implemented by the Government are closely related to the development of HKIEd, we consider that the Education and Manpower Bureau (EMB) should have a representative serving as a member of the HKIEd Council, so that the Council and EMB can have appropriate communication on the education policies launched by the Government.  In view of the above, and that the public officer only occupies a single seat in the Council, the Government believes that the principle of institution autonomy will not be affected, and that there is no question of discrimination against the HKIEd.

(b)  Regarding other tertiary institutions, the City University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and the Open University of Hong Kong also have similar provisions in their respective ordinances which empower the Chief Executive to appoint public officers as members of their Councils.  Other than the Open University of Hong Kong, the Government has not appointed public officers as members of the Councils of the other three universities.

Ends/Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Issued at HKT 12:50

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