The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has proposed amendments to laws governing the institution that would allow university heads to be sacked on new grounds, including “misconduct, incompetence, and inefficiency.”

The University Council, the school’s governing body, said in an email addressed to alumni on Wednesday that it also proposed replacing the Convocation, an alumni representation body, with an Alumni Advisory Board.

The CUHK Ordinance, drafted in 1976 and now more than 50 years old, is an “antiquated piece of legislation,” it said. “The University Council has therefore decided that it is now time to overhaul the CUHK Ordinance by modernizing and streamlining the structure and contents of the legislation.”

The CUHK council proposed that the grounds for removal of officers, including pro-vice-chancellors and vice presidents, be aligned with those of other publicly funded universities in Hong Kong, “which is to include the ground of ‘misconduct, incompetence, [and] inefficiency’ in addition to the general term of good cause.”

It also proposed raising the appointment threshold for pro-vice-chancellors and vice presidents from a simple majority to at least two-thirds of voting council members. Votes in favour should constitute no less than half of the council’s total membership.

See also: Chinese University of Hong Kong college student unions suspend operations over school’s recognition

The two-thirds threshold will also apply to the removal of the vice-chancellor, pro-vice-chancellor, and vice-presidents.

Alumni body

Noting that there are some 300,000 members of the CUHK Convocation, the council said it “has proved to be a near impossible logistical task” to convene annual general meetings in accordance with current requirements.

There have been significant difficulties since 2020 in conducting the meetings “in an orderly manner,” the council said. The last annual meeting at which elections were successfully concluded was in July 2022, and it has also failed to elect its standing committee since 2023.

“The existing framework no longer allows the Convocation to effectively fulfil its intended functions and contribution – a reality that will only intensify as our graduate community continues to expand.”

It is “unrealistic” to expect a reversal, the council said. “It is therefore proposed that the Convocation be replaced by a new CUHK Alumni Advisory Board, leveraging and empowering the extensive and established alumni association networks.”

The board will be made up of members nominated by “established alumni associations” and appointed by the University Council.

The council had previously taken steps to reduce the Convocation’s influence by reducing the number of representatives it could have on the university’s governing body from three to one.

In February, two CUHK graduates lost a legal bid to challenge their disqualifications from running in the Convocation Standing Committee election in February 2023.

Lawmaker Bill Tang, who sits on the CUHK council, told local media that there is “no shortage of avenues for alumni to engage with university affairs,” pointing to alumni links maintained by the university’s colleges and its Alumni Affairs Office.

Hong Kong authorities have proposed tightening the regulation of claw machine shops by implementing a licensing regime to curb addiction risks.

The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau’s proposal, included in a document submitted to the Legislative Council (LegCo) on Monday, comes as claw machine shops proliferate in the city as a low-maintenance business opportunity.

“Since these activities may involve gaming elements or addiction risks, appropriate restrictions on format or content may be necessary to protect participants, especially youth, from physical or mental harm or significant financial loss,” the bureau said.

The government seeks to introduce new requirements, such as posting a notice indicating that devices are licensed. The bureau is also considering mandatory addiction warning labels on machines.

A list of licensed premises has also been uploaded to the Home Affairs Department’s Office of the Licensing Authority, the document read.

The tightened regulations will function under the city’s Gambling Ordinance, which currently stipulates that claw machine shops must hold an Amusement With Prizes Licence (AWPL). Before that licence can be granted, a venue must hold a public entertainment licence.

However, a 2022 High Court ruling determined that claw machines do not meet the definition of “entertainment” and thus do not require a public entertainment licence, creating a regulatory gap.

The bureau is proposing to remove the requirement for a public entertainment licence and allow the Home Affairs Department to issue AWPLs directly.

Prize caps, addiction risks

Speaking on an RTHK programme, lawmaker Vincent Cheng said he agreed with the government’s proposal in principle but asked the authorities to consider whether the new curbs would stamp out the business.

“We have to consider whether [the regulation] will affect the industry’s development,” he said, urging the government to “strike a balance.”

Lawmaker Bill Tang, who chairs the LegCo Panel on Home Affairs, Culture and Sports, welcomed the tightened regulations, saying that some claw machine operations had “evolved” beyond their original leisurely purpose.

Prizes in certain machines now include high-value items such as mobile phones, encouraging gambling behaviour, Tang said. He proposed a HK$5 limit on the fee for each game and that the value of each prize be capped at HK$300.

The bureau has also proposed to regulate internet cafes, moving away from a Code of Practice model and introducing a mandatory licensing system.

One option is to bring internet cafes in line with the regulatory regime for traditional gaming arcades, imposing strict age restrictions for adult- or children-only venues and a ban on students in school uniform.

Another model would be to allow cafes to operate if they meet strict safety conditions.

The proposals are scheduled to be discussed at the legislature on Monday.