Baptist head talks tough over site

Baptist University president Albert Chan Sun-chi has vowed to resign if he fails to secure the target site for a teaching hospital.

Speaking at the university's spring reception, Chan said he was not threatening the government but would hold himself responsible if he loses a bid for the former Lee Wai Lee Institute site eyed for a Chinese medicine teaching hospital.

"As president of the university, I have the full responsibility to fight for what we need," Chan said. "I should not stay [at the university] if I fail to do so.

"This is what I urge myself to achieve and I am not threatening the government."

Earlier, the government decided to allocate the northern part of the former campus of the Vocational Training Council to Baptist University for a student dormitory, but rezoned the southern part for residential properties.

A two-month public consultation will be held until April.

"We think the land is a hundred times more suitable for building the hospital than luxury properties," Chan said.

He said a planned Chinese medicine teaching hospital is supported by the public and Food and Health Bureau.

The project will cost between HK$800 million and HK$1 billion and the university is looking for donations.

When asked about Baptist University's former director of Advanced Institute for Contemporary China Studies, Sit Fung-shuen, Chan said any punishment for Sit will be decided according to school procedure.

A panel will make a decision in one to two months.

Sit, who was removed from the position after the Blue Book of Hong Kong criticized Western-style values in education programs, is still involved in geographical research, Chan said.

Meanwhile, Tung Wah College will open a new elective course in embryological studies and reproductive medicine in light of the increasing demand for assisted reproductive technology.

The course will be offered from next school year for nursing and medical science students.

The college will also conduct research in infertility treatment combining Western and Chinese medicine.

Reference: www.thestandard.com.hk/
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