South China Morning Post | 2012-05-04 CITY4| CITY| By Joyce Ng
Petition on HKU building 'takeover'
University of Hong Kong alumni launched an online petition yesterday to stop what they fear will be an administrative takeover of the university's landmark Main Building.
The launch came as university management admitted submitting a preliminary plan for the building's future use to government last year, before beginning a consultation.
In an e-mail to staff, students and alumni, university pro-vice-chancellor Professor John Malpas said no decision on the building's use had been made but a preliminary technical feasibility study had been submitted to explore the possibility of obtaining public funds for repairs.
His response came after the South China Morning Post revealed on Monday that floor plans in the submission indicated most of the building would be used for administration.
The plans, which were not disclosed to students, sparked concerns about an ongoing consultation to determine the century-old building's use after the arts faculty moves out to a new campus in the summer. Student representatives say the building should remain a centre of learning and be accessible to the public.
Malpas said there were misconceptions about the building's use. While [it] is open to everyone, it is not being actively used by the HKU family other than those who have classes or attend events, or who have offices there, he said. Half of the floor space was used for offices, he said, 25 per cent for classrooms and 15 per cent for events and student activities. The remainder was common areas.
In the future, the site would be used for activities relating to students, alumni, administration, the public and staff. A senior management team would decide on a final plan after considering consultation feedback, he said.
Steven Kwok Wing-kin, an alumnus and member of concern group HKU Centenary Action, called Malpas' explanation misleading. The current offices are used by frontline teaching staff, and their doors are open to students. It's not like the vice chancellor's office and those service centres they want to bring in, which students almost never go to, he said. The university should set a good example for revitalising heritage and implement a democratic plan.
The concern group's petition had more than 600 signatures yesterday.
Alumnus and lawmaker Lee Wing-tat said once the top administrators took over the building, security would inevitably tighten because more VIPs would visit. [For example] with Vice-Premier Li Keqiang's visit in August, the university had little say over managing public access, and it's the police, the outside parties, that barred people from entering the VIP places, he said.
Petition on HKU building 'takeover'
University of Hong Kong alumni launched an online petition yesterday to stop what they fear will be an administrative takeover of the university's landmark Main Building.
The launch came as university management admitted submitting a preliminary plan for the building's future use to government last year, before beginning a consultation.
In an e-mail to staff, students and alumni, university pro-vice-chancellor Professor John Malpas said no decision on the building's use had been made but a preliminary technical feasibility study had been submitted to explore the possibility of obtaining public funds for repairs.
His response came after the South China Morning Post revealed on Monday that floor plans in the submission indicated most of the building would be used for administration.
The plans, which were not disclosed to students, sparked concerns about an ongoing consultation to determine the century-old building's use after the arts faculty moves out to a new campus in the summer. Student representatives say the building should remain a centre of learning and be accessible to the public.
Malpas said there were misconceptions about the building's use. While [it] is open to everyone, it is not being actively used by the HKU family other than those who have classes or attend events, or who have offices there, he said. Half of the floor space was used for offices, he said, 25 per cent for classrooms and 15 per cent for events and student activities. The remainder was common areas.
In the future, the site would be used for activities relating to students, alumni, administration, the public and staff. A senior management team would decide on a final plan after considering consultation feedback, he said.
Steven Kwok Wing-kin, an alumnus and member of concern group HKU Centenary Action, called Malpas' explanation misleading. The current offices are used by frontline teaching staff, and their doors are open to students. It's not like the vice chancellor's office and those service centres they want to bring in, which students almost never go to, he said. The university should set a good example for revitalising heritage and implement a democratic plan.
The concern group's petition had more than 600 signatures yesterday.
Alumnus and lawmaker Lee Wing-tat said once the top administrators took over the building, security would inevitably tighten because more VIPs would visit. [For example] with Vice-Premier Li Keqiang's visit in August, the university had little say over managing public access, and it's the police, the outside parties, that barred people from entering the VIP places, he said.
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