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    Following is a question by Dr the Hon Kwok Ka-ki and a written reply by the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Professor Arthur K C Li, in the Legislative Council today (June 29):

Question :

    Regarding the education and scientific research projects conducted by the University of Hong Kong ("HKU"), including those of its Faculty of Medicine, in collaboration with the private organisations, will the Government inform this Council :

(a) whether it knows the names of the private organisations taking part in the above projects;

(b) whether it knows if HKU has established a mechanism for declaration of interests applicable to the senior management of HKU and staff of the HKU's Faculty of Medicine who drew up and/or participated in the relevant projects, as well as a mechanism for approving the post-retirement/service employment with the private organisations for such staff; if it has such an approval mechanism, of the list of the former HKU staff who made applications in accordance with the mechanism in the past three years and the collaboration items involved, as well as the posts in the private organisations which they intended to take up and the results of their applications; if it has not established such a mechanism, the reasons for that; and

(c) whether it has monitored the use of public funds provided for the relevant projects, and laid down any regulations and guidelines to ensure the professional autonomy of HKU and prevent the shift of public funds to activities involving private organisations; if it has, of the relevant details; if not, how the authorities prevent the professional autonomy of HKU from being affected and the shift of public funds to other usages?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a) & (b) Each of the University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded institutions, including the University of Hong Kong, is an autonomous body governed by its own Ordinance and governing council. They enjoy unfettered academic freedom and considerable institutional autonomy in areas including the management of its staff and research activities. The institutions can carry out education and scientific research projects in collaboration with private organisations, and establish appropriate mechanisms for staff management, in accordance with their respective governing legislation. The Administration and the UGC fully respect institutional autonomy, and will not seek to interfere with the institutions' internal affairs.

(c) The UGC has put in place rules and regulations to ensure that public funds allocated to institutions are used to pursue academic and related activities which are in line with public policy objectives, and that there should be no cross-subsidisation of public resources for non-UGC-funded activities. These rules are set out in the UGC Notes on Procedures, which are available for public scrutiny on, inter alia, the UGC website at www.ugc.edu.hk.

Ends/Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Issued at HKT 14:33

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