The Hong Kong government?faces two new?challenges from the higher education sector tied to the ongoing pro-democracy demonstrations in the city.

The Convocation of the University of Hong Kong, a statutory body?which comprises graduates and teachers,?held an extraordinary general meeting?on 19 October?to vote on two?non-binding?motions pertaining to the protests. Both?: by?2,986 to 230,?and?by 3,002 to 218.??

The first motion held Carrie Lam, Hong Kong¡¯s chief executive and an HKU alumna, ¡°responsible for having caused unforgivable havoc to Hong Kong¡± and?urged her to resign?as HKU chancellor. Following tradition, the?head of government is the?de facto?chancellor of the city's universities.??

Hong Kong¡¯s eight main higher education institutions are publicly supported,?and they?may feel caught in a balancing act of keeping good relations with the government that funds them.?

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Steve Tsang,?director of the China Institute at?SOAS University of London,?told?Times Higher Education?that?¡°the fact that universities are funded by taxpayers does not mean universities are meant to be subservient to the government of the day¡±.

¡°If there is a sense among leaders in Hong Kong¡¯s universities that they are ¡®caught in the middle¡¯ and having the?chief?executive of the SAR as?chancellor is posing a problem to upholding academic integrity and independence, then they should move to end the legacy from the British colonial days in having the?governor serving as?chancellor of the universities,¡± he said, using the abbreviation for Hong Kong¡¯s designation as a special administrative region (SAR) of China.?

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¡°There is no compelling reason why this practice must be continued,¡± Professor Tsang added.?

The second motion from the HKU Convocation ¡°strongly¡± urged the administration to assist students injured during protests and?to?¡°ensure about their legal rights being adequately protected at trials¡±.?

A?day?prior, Rocky Tuan, vice-chancellor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, called for an investigation into student arrests and related police violence. He said that he?would condemn any ¡°proven¡± cases of police brutality.?

?was?striking for its emotional openness and the?candour with which it described?how university administrators are dealing with difficult situations.??

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¡°My heart is heavy and unsettled as I pen this personal letter. The chaotic scenes from the media images of my meeting a week ago with CUHK students and alumni must have shocked many,¡± he wrote, referring to a forum in which?students?testified about alleged?police mistreatment.?¡°I heard loud and clear every word uttered by our students, which brought me no small share of sadness and regret.¡±?

¡°The university is expected to make best use of its status, standing, and influence to ensure a fair treatment of the related issues and the students affected,¡± he concluded.??

Professor Tuan¡¯s comments met with almost immediate backlash.?People¡¯s Daily,?a Chinese state media newspaper, called?Professor Tuan¡¯s letter ¡°biased.¡± Leung Chun-ying, former Hong Kong chief executive and now vice-chairman of a top Chinese advisory body, accused Professor Tuan of issuing the statement for his own personal preservation and said that student protesters did not require assistance from universities.??

In a rare show of solidarity, the heads of the eight university councils issued a?on 20 October clarifying that?assistance provided by universities did not necessarily reflect political views. ¡°Universities cherish the well-being of all staff and students,¡± it said.?

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joyce.lau@timeshighereducation.com??