The University of Hong Kong (HKU)’s head has been cleared of misconduct and mismanagement allegations, after whistle-blower emails accusing him of mismanaging funds prompted a six-month-long investigation.
The complaints about the institution’s president and vice-chancellor Zhang Xiang were not substantiated, a statement published by the HKU Council on Saturday read.
In a separate statement on Sunday, Zhang – who has maintained his innocence – said that while the investigation “affirmed” his innocence, his colleagues had dealt with “immense mental pressure” over the past six months and the university’s name had also suffered.
“The development of the University of Hong Kong is of paramount importance to both the future of Hong Kong and our country’s development,” he wrote. “Unfortunately, this incident has tarnished the reputation of the University of Hong Kong in the global scene.”
Zhang added that he hoped the university could get “swiftly get back on track, set aside prejudices, stay free from interference and restore a sense of tranquillity.”
Whistle-blower accusations
The investigation into Zhang was sparked by whistle-blower emails sent to HKU Council members last October, in which the sender raised accusations against the university’s head.
Among the accusations directed against Zhang was that, under his leadership, the university accepted a donation made by a mainland Chinese firm that was sanctioned by the US over alleged human rights abuses related to forced Uyghur labour.
Zhang was also said to have recruited a US head-hunter without following procurement procedures to hire a medical dean and a vice-president, as well as misappropriated school funds for renovation work.
The Chinese-American physicist – who was appointed as the university’s president and vice-chancellor six years ago – repeatedly denied the claims and slammed “rumour-mongers” for leaking confidential information and distorting the truth.
Days after the accusations came to light, the HKU Council convened a panel to probe the complaints. Zhang remained the school’s head throughout the investigation.
Zhang succeeded Peter Mathieson, who resigned after four years in office, in 2018. Since assuming the role, he faced controversies over the alleged suppression of academic freedom and nepotism, including when his ex-colleagues from UC Berkeley were appointed as vice-presidents of HKU in 2020.
Under Zhang’s leadership, the university has cut ties with its students’ union and removed monuments that commemorated those killed during the Tiananmen crackdown on June 4, 1989, when China’s People’s Liberation Army dispersed student pro-democracy protesters in Beijing.
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