Hong Kong’s Audit Commission finds Chinese University has not done enough to safeguard national security

Hong Kong’s Audit Commission has found that Chinese University has not done enough to safeguard national security and also raised concerns about the management of campus facilities.

In a report released on Wednesday, the commission said the university had yet to incorporate ensuring national security in its tender documents, contracts and guidelines, calling on the institution to strengthen its “guidance and regulations” for facilities operated by external contractors.

“For instance, the bookstore operator was only required not to use or cause or permit the bookstore to be used for any unlawful or immoral purpose, and not to display or sell merchandise of obscene or immoral nature,” it said.

“However, [the university] did not issue any guidelines related to the safeguarding of national security for the operation of the bookstore.”

The commission has urged the university president to provide guidance to those overseeing campus facilities. Photo: Jelly Tse

The report is the latest in a turbulent year for the publicly-funded university and comes just weeks after the city’s legislature passed a controversial bill shaking up its governing council.

The commission urged the university president to provide guidance to those overseeing campus facilities, as well as incorporate clauses in the tender documents and the contracts to allow disqualification of tenderers and termination of agreements in the interest of national security.

The national security law, imposed by Beijing on the city in June 2020 following months of anti-government protests, criminalises acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces, with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Article 9 of the law dictates that the government will take “necessary measures to strengthen public communication, guidance, supervision and regulation over matters concerning national security, including those relating to schools, universities, social organisations, the media and the internet.”

The campus is one of eight tertiary institutions which receives publicly-funded grants through the University Grants Committee.

In its report, the auditor called on the university to step up its monitoring of operations at campus facilities.

The commission said it carried out numerous site visits during its investigation and found operators were providing services which were prohibited by their contract. In one example, it discovered the bookstore was selling miniature rechargeable fans and toy dolls, products which fell outside those stipulated in the agreements.

It also found that all of the university’s catering outlets had failed to obtain a food business licence, and that none of the operators served exclusively to students and staff.

The commission also concluded that there was “limited competition” in its tendering exercises owing to “lukewarm” interest from external operators looking to use the campus facilities. In two-thirds of the tender exercises analysed by the commission, it found fewer than three tenders were received.

It also highlighted that the operators for the supermarket, convenience store, hair salon and bookstore had not changed since 1981, 2001, 2005, and 2012, respectively.

The commission called on the university to “explore measures to attract more potential operators to submit tenders and step up the publicity of tender invitations”.

Responding to the report, the university said its vice-chancellor agreed with the commission’s recommendations.

The institution has garnered widespread public attention this year.

Earlier this month, the city’s legislature passed a controversial bill shaking up the campus’ governing council by increasing the number of external members and changing the process for appointing the president.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption earlier in August said it was looking into allegations of corruption, misconduct in public office and misappropriation of funds in connection with the operation of a medical research centre at the university.

The university, one of the oldest in the city which consistently places among its best in highly regarded annual rankings, is led by Rocky Tuan Sung-chi.

Tung’s reappointment last year drew criticism from the pro-establishment camp. Some complained it amounted to rewarding him for his actions during the 2019 anti-government protests, when he showed sympathy for student protesters.