Eric Cheung Tat-ming, principal lecturer at the University of Hong Kong’s Faculty of Law, has been elected to the University’s governing Council for a three-year term.

Cheung, an outspoken advocate for academic freedom, said that he chose to run because he loves HKU and was saddened by the Council’s rejection of pro-democracy scholar Johannes Chan Man-mun‘s appointment as pro-vice-chancellor.

He promised to defend academic freedom and institutional independence at HKU.

eric cheung
Professor Eric Cheung Tat-ming. Photo: HKFP.

Four candidates ran for the HKU Council seat held by incumbent Felix Ng Kwok-yan, whose term ended on Friday. Cheung, nominated by General Education Unit Assistant Director Wong Chi-chung, won with 557 of 1,173 votes cast.

Both Cheung and Ng, a 40-year veteran with the HKU Employees Union, supported Chan’s appointment, Apple Daily reported.

Timothy O'Leary, Cheung Kie-chung, Joseph Chan Cho-wai.
From left: Timothy O’Leary, Cheung Kie-chung, Joseph Chan Cho-wai. and Stand News.

In November, three other HKU professors known as academic freedom advocates were also elected to the Council: School of Humanities head Timothy O’Leary, politics professor Joseph Chan, and Mechanical engineering professor Cheung Kie-chung. 

All have voiced opposition to Arthur Li Kwok-cheung‘s installation as Council chair.

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Karen is a journalist and writer covering politics and legal affairs in Hong Kong for HKFP. She has also written features on human rights, public space, regional legal developments, social and grassroots activism, and arts & culture. She is a BA and LLB graduate from the University of Hong Kong.