HKU petitioner stands by claim students attacked professor at stormed meeting despite not ‘knowing what was going on’

A University of Hong Kong alumnus who started an online petition condemning students who stormed an HKU council meeting last week said today she would stand by an allegation a councillor was attacked – even though it remained unclear why he fell to the ground.

The petition by 2000 graduate Maureen Chung Mo-lan, lashes out at liberal scholar Professor Johannes Chan Man-mun for breaking the rules on political donations and at protesting students for “attacking” Professor Lo Chung-mau during the council meeting last Wednesday.

The closed-door meeting ended in chaos when angry students stormed the venue upon learning that members were sticking to their guns in deferring the appointment of Chan to the key managerial post of pro-vice-chancellor.

Chan’s supporters say his appointment has been delayed because of his pro-democracy views and close ties with his colleague, Benny Tai Yiu-ting, who co-founded last year’s Occupy Central movement.