9月16日:幹事會電子郵件

各位港大同學:

為何要發動全民公投?

  我們注意到校方近日有關「學生事務長周偉立及首席副校長錢大康是否繼續適合擔任其職務」的聲明,均指學生會發動是次公投,全因「港大龍華街新宿舍工程嚴重延誤」,並未有注意到我們背後的理念。於投票前夕,我們希望讓同學更全面了解學生會發動是次全民公投的原因。

  一直以來,無論是一個小食亭,抑或是一座宿舍,我們都盡心盡力為大學建設、為同學服務。學生會幹事對校園發展的關心,全因我們對港大的愛。即使面對重重難關,我們都堅守「師生共治」的理念,希望同學的聲音得到重視並予以落實。

曾提出與校方共同分擔重任

  我們於數月前已預見到新學制雙班年所帶來的難題,並提出解決方案。我們認為,每一位港大的持分者都應該有機會分擔這些挑戰,共同建設更美好的校園。作為直接受影響的一群,同學的意見更沒有理由被忽視!因此,我們早於7月初便向負責處理新學制雙班年危機應變的首席副校長錢大康教授提出,要求讓同學進一步參與有關的校政規劃,使我們能為大學出謀獻策,共同分擔這個重任,合力為同學提供最完善的校園環境。可惜,我們未能得到錢大康教授的積極回應,連有關資訊(如應變措施)都不願定期向學生代表提供。

同學於最後一刻才「被知會」  

  經過多次的延誤,龍華街4座新宿舍原訂於7月中及8月中完工,提供1,800個宿位。我們眼見8月底仍未能安排同學入住,又收到不少已經來港卻沒有住處的非本地生的求助,故一直遏而不捨地追問學生事務長周偉立博士,卻未能促使校方即時提供有關資訊。如非學生會多次向同學及公眾提出有關疑問和表達不滿,相信錢大康教授及周偉立博士絕不會主動透過電郵簡述有關事宜,公佈A座及B座可於9月5日入伙,惟仍未有說明任何應變措施。我們更於9月4日晚深夜接近凌晨時分,才獲周偉立博士告知,龍華街新宿舍再次未能如期讓同學入宿。

理解工程延誤和體諒校方努力

  即使周偉立博士認為龍華街新宿舍的延誤是「由於一些我們無法直接控制的因素」,我們都絕對能夠理解和體諒校方的努力。不過,是次延誤反映,同學的聲音被忽視、同學的主動參與更被拒諸門外!我們不禁質疑,在是次延誤前:
1)錢大康教授為何未有一早公佈「後備應變方案」?又拒絕定期與同學溝通?;
2)周偉立博士為何在最後一刻才通知同學?又未有積極和主動向同學提供有關資訊?;及
3)錢大康教授及周偉立博士有多大的誠意和用心,尊重和回應同學的熱誠和意見?

  如果連負責學生事務的校方高層也是如此對待同學的參與,敷衍塞責,漠視「師生共治」的理念,作為大學最重要的持分者,我們豈能接受?我們再次要求學生事務長周偉立博士及首席副校長錢大康教授承擔責任。

全民公投:無約束力議案
促使校方尊重學生 維護「師生共治」

  我們曾以各種不同的方式向校方表達意見,惜無功而還。因此,我們認為,有必要採取更高層面的行動:全民公投。學生會希望,透過發動全民公投,讓同學就兩位負責學生事務的校方高層是否繼續適合擔任其職務作出決定。儘管兩項議案對校方並無約束力,但我們希望藉著是次公投,以最民主的方式,促使校方(特別是負責學生事務的高層)在日後以實際行動維護「師生共治」的理念,尊重學生,與同學一起為大學服務。

  有關公投將於9月17至19日舉行,同學可於上午10時30分至下午5時30分於校內各個票站行使您的學生權利。我們衷心呼籲同學於是次公投中投下神聖一票,以手上的一票向校方反映我們的聲音。無論公投結果如何,我們希望藉此在未來爭取更大的校務議政空間、校政參與及學生福利,繼續為同學打拼!

香港大學學生會
2012年9月16日

Dear Union Members,



WHY A GENERAL POLLING?



The University has recently issued a number of statements regarding the general polling initiated by the Union, regarding the suitability of Dr. Albert Chau, Dean of Student Affairs and Prof. Roland Chin, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost in holding the office. The statements mentioned the general polling “as a product solely on the construction delay of Residential Colleges on Lung Wah Street”, without noticing the concept behind it.



In order to allow you, our dear Union Members, to have the full picture of the general polling before the voting period, we wish to further elaborate the rationale of initiating the general polling.



For years, from a food kiosk to a student hostel, we have tried our utmost in serving students and the University. Some of the Union Executives even have to suspend their studies as a full-time Union officer in serving you wholeheartedly. It is all about our love and care to our alma-mater – the University of Hong Kong. Thus, we do insist that the University must be governed by both the students and staff (teachers), in hopes of ensuring students’ voice to be heard and implemented in various University policies.



The Union has proposed to share the burden with the University on crisis management concerning the implementation of the new curriculum



This year is a very special year due to double cohort. Earlier in June, we have evaluated on various aspects of the University’s preparation on this matter. A number of difficulties were identified and solutions were offered. We believe that each stakeholders of the University, including students, should bear the responsibility in combating these challenges together. The views of students, who are directly affected, must not be neglected.



Thus, in early July, we proposed to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost, Prof. Roland Chin, who is responsible for leading the crisis management group regarding the new curriculum, students’ request to participate in the group in order to allow students to offer solutions to potential problems and share the burden together with the University. However, our enthusiasm and passion were rejected by Prof. Chin, who even refused to provide updated information (e.g. back-up plans) on this matter regularly to students.



Students were not informed until the last minute



With repeated delay, the 4 blocks of Residential Colleges on Lung Wah Street were originally to be completed in mid-July and mid-August respectively, providing 1,800 residential placements to students.



In late-August, we have received quite a lot of enquiries asking for assistance from non-local students who have already arrived in Hong Kong but were still unable to check into the Residential Colleges. Thus, we requested the Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Albert Chau, to further disclose the relevant information to students without success. Prof. Chin and Dr. Chau did not brief students on the matter until repeated issuance of mass emails and press releases to students and the public by the Union. It was mentioned that students may move into Block A and B on 5 September. However, students were not notified about its further delay until the mid-night on 4 September.



Understandable to the construction delay – this is not the main reason of WHY A GENERAL POLLING!



Even though Dr. Albert Chau believes that the delay was “owing to factors beyond (the University’s) direct control”, we can certainly understand the difficult situation. However, the delay has clearly reflected that student voice, active participation and potential contribution in University affairs were completed ignored and rejected! We are doubtful on the following:
1) Why didn’t Prof. Roland Chin announce the “back-up plans” in advance? Why refuse to communicate with students regularly?;
2) Why did Dr. Albert Chau inform students at the last minute? Why didn’t he provide the relevant information to students regularly and actively?; and
3) To what extent do Prof. Chin and Dr. Chau have the sincerity and open-mindedness, with respect and response to students’ passion and enthusiasm?



As the most important stakeholders of the University, we cannot accept such an attitude of the University senior officers who are responsible for student affairs! We reiterate that both Dr. Chau and Prof. Chin must take the responsibility.



General Polling: no binding power
To urge the University to respect her students and defend “joint governance by both students and staff (teachers)”



We have tried different forms of actions repeatedly without success. Thus, we believe that a higher level of actions must be taken: the General Polling. The Union wishes that, through initiating the general polling, students are allowed to determine whether the two senior University staff, who are responsible for student affairs, are suitable to hold the office. Although the two motions do not have binding power on the University, we sincerely hope that the general polling would provide students an opportunity with the most democratic way to make the decision and to urge the University, in particular senior officer in the field of student affairs, to to respect her students and defend “joint governance by both students and staff (teachers)” with real actions.



The general polling will be held from 17 to 19 September (10:30am to 5:30pm). Students may exercise your right in various polling stations of the University. We sincerely encourage every one of you to vote in the general polling in order to express your opinion to the University administration. We will continue to strive for further participation of students in University affairs.



Thank you for your kind attention.



The Hong Kong University Students’ Union

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