Rosanna Wong accuses Chan of 'political stance' in new leak

A leaked recording from a controversial University of Hong Kong (HKU) council meeting has surfaced in Taiwan, just days after a Hong Kong court barred the broadcast of any material from the closed-door deliberations.

The eight-minute audio clip, which comes with English and Chinese transcripts, were uploaded on PTT, one of the most popular online forums in Taiwan, Apple Daily reports.

In it, council member Rosanna Wong, 63, is heard saying that former law dean Johannes Chan, then the only pro vice chancellor-nominee, is "unfit for the role" because of his "strong political stance".

Last week, Commercial Radio ran extensive broadcasts of similar negative comments by fellow council members Arthur Li and Leonie Ki in what appeared to be a concerted attempt by the council to derail Chan's nomination by its own search committee.

HKU won a court injunction to stop further broadcasts of the leaked recordings, although Li's comments later surfaced on a sexually explicit Hong Kong website after Commercial Radio agreed to abide by the court order.

The porn site version reportedly is not specifically covered by the injunction and the Taiwanese recording, uploaded by a self-described "Savior for cowards", is out of the Hong Kong court's jurisdiction.

Wong, who is seen as a potential successor to council chairman Edward Leong who stepped down on Friday, is heard saying in the Taiwanese recording that the person for the post is "expected to unite HKU" but she has "no faith in Chan".

"That is why I do not want to see anybody coming in and further dividing [HKU].”

Wong is a deputy to China's powerful political advisory body.

She became an executive councilor shortly after resigning as Housing Authority chief amid a scandal over substandard groundwork on a public housing construction site.

HKU president and vice chancellor Peter Mathieson is heard in the recording rebutting Wong’s comments that progress in the university has stalled.

Student union chairman Billy Fung, who is also a council member, said Wong's comments were made during a Sept. 29 meeting in which the council rejected Chan by a 12-8 vote.

Shortly after that meeting, Fung told a media briefing about the reasons for Chan's rejection, notably his lack of a doctorate degree.

The revelation sparked controversy, with council members accusing Fung of lying and violating confidentiality regulations.

Meanwhile, an unnamed source said the next recording might feature Lo Chung-mau, head of the HKU surgery department.

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TL/AC/RA