87. In estimating the area requirements for the University, it has been assumed that the University campus will develop in three phases :
Phase I - Phase II - Phase III -
for about 2,000 FTEs by 1 May 1991, allowing a 1 October 1991 opening;
for about 7,000 FTEs by 1 May 1993,
enabling an additional 5,000 FTEs to be admitted; and for expansion to about 10,000 FTEs sometime later.
These dates, of course, are subject to Government and UPGC approval and refer to physical readiness and not actual student intake. For example, whilst the completion of all works contracts should ensure that the campus is capable of accommodating 7,000 FTEs by 1 May 1993, the student intake in October of that same year will not increase the student population to 7,000 but will gradually build up to that number before Phase III becomes available.
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88. It is estimated that the indicative floor area required for the campus buildings, i.e. academic, administration, amenities and housing, under each phase is :
Phase I
Phase II (including Phase I) Phase III (including Phase II)
Net Area Gross Area
m2 m2
36,500 5 1,000
163,000 228,000
227,000 3 18,000
89. The net figures represent the basic design requirement but to these a balance area must be added to give the total built gross area required. Although in practice the balance area varies for each category of space, the overall average is around 40%.
90. Estimates of area requirements have been based on a detailed analysis of the distribution of students in the Schools of Study and the contribution of the General Education Centre in its servicing role to these Schools.
91. Estimated space requirements for each phase of development of the Univer- sity are summarised in Appendix Q. The assumptions and space norms used are presented in Appendix R.
INDICATIVE RECURRENT COSTS
92. The recurrent financial estimates have been prepared for each year from 1989/90 to 1995/96. They are presented in detail in Appendix S with a number of explanatory notes. It is assumed that grants from the Government through the UPGCwillcommence with the triennium 1991-94 but that funding for the earlier period will be provided directly from Government.
93.
required :
The estimates show that the following subventions, at 1987 prices, will be
1991192 161
1992193 245
1993194 335
1994195 419
1995196 542
Subvention (HK$ M)
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The Planning Committee stresses at this stage that the estimates are very much an initial indication of expenditure. They have been based on a detailed model of the University which includes the distribution of student numbers and proposed departmental establishments.
These parameters are clearly very tentative and will be subject to substantial modifications when the Vice-Chancellor and senior staff of the University are in post. The purpose, however, in building up costs from a detailed model of the University is to ensure that there are no major omissions and that the overall total recurrent costs will be reasonably close to the actual required level of expenditure.
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94. The following indicative capital costs, at 1987 prices, have been prepared for Phases I and II of the campus project which will be capable of accommodating 7,000 F students.
HK% Million 0 a Academic. Administration and Amenities (buildin&
91,500m2 net area (NA) x 1.6
Landscaning; and External works Lump Sum
(Note 2) 30
Possible Additional Site Formation and Drainage Works Lump Sum
Excluding inflation and equipment
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The estimate refers to facilities on campus only and excludes all reference to costs incurred off-campus, for example, in relation to staff housing. A number of assumptions have been made that are unlikely to be corroborated before a master plan for the campus has been agreed.
95. In addition to the capital costs proposed for the campus project, a separate capital grant will be required to purchase specialist and teaching equipment. Estimates of the cost of the equipment to be purchased by the City Polytechnic for its new campus, amounted to HK$300 million, at 1987 prices. However, as explained in paragraph 48 of the Report, it is believed that the university requirement will be substantially higher.
STAFF SALARY SCALES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE
96. In its consideration of salary scales the Planning Committee has noted that the two existing universities in Hong Kong employ common salary scales for different categories of staff, viz. clinical academic staff; non-clinical academic and equivalent administrative staff; clerical, secretarial and technical staff; and minor staff. It, therefore, considers that the salary scales in the new University should equate with their counterparts in the existing universities. With regard to the conditions of service, the Planning Committee believes that similarly these should not differ significantly from those applying in the two existing universities, although the conditions of service of the two universities are sometimes different. A preliminary set of salary scales and conditions of service including that for the Vice-Chancellor has been produced.
97. The Planning Committee considers that arrangements for the introduction of a superannuation scheme are matters of importance which should best be dealt with by the Council of the University when it is formed. Pending the introduction of a superannuation scheme, the Planning Committee recognises that the first employees of the University should be offered contract terms, with the exception of minor staff who will be offered temporary month-to-month terms.
98. The Planning Committee considers that the academic staff of the University should be provided with the opportunity, and be encouraged, to constantly update them- selves and enrich their knowledge. Hence, it feels that, subject to justification and strict control, the academic staff should be granted sabbatical leave to undertake research, further study and consultancy work and to attend conferences.
99. The Planning Committee has noted the necessity to determine the conditions under which academic staff may be engaged in paid consultancy work and the conditions under which tenure should be granted. These conditions should be clearly defined in such a way that the ultimate interests of the University and the academic staff are looked after.
The Planning Committee considers that these matters should be dealt with by the Council of the University.
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Part D
PROGRESS ON EXECUTIVE TASKS
RECRUITMENT OF VICE-CHANCELLOR
100. In accordance with its terms of reference, the Planning Committee is invited to recommend for appointment the first Vice-Chancellor and other staff of the University.
At the first plenary session, the Planning Committee decided that the early selection of a Vice-Chancellor would greatly assist its work for he could then be involved at an early stage in planning work and participate in the selection of senior staff.
101. Through the auspices of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), the advertisement for the Vice-Chancellor designate appeared in the Times Higher Education Supplement in the UK, the Chronicle of Higher Education published in the USA,
The Australian - an educational journal in Australia, and the University Affairs - the journal of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. The advertisement also appeared in the Hong Kong press on 9/10 January 1987.
102. The Secretary-General of the ACU also wrote to the Association of Vice- Chancellors’ Committee in Canberra and to the Committee of Vice-Chancellors in Welling- ton. As a matter of routine, copies of the advertisement were sent to every university in the UK but the ACU advised that, in addition, the Planning Committee Chairman should write specifically to the Vice-Chancellors or Principals of these universities seeking nominations;
these letters were issued on 2 January 1987. The Secretary-General wrote similar letters to known riends”’ of the Planning Committee, such as the former and current members of the UPGC.
103. Although the response to the advertisement and to the letters issued in January 1987 was encouraging, the Planning Committee decided that, as the recruitment of a suitable Vice-Chancellor is crucial, the net should be cast as widely as possible. A further batch of letters was sent in April 1987 to the contacts in the UK and USA enclosing more up- to-date information about the University and pointing up the attractiveness of the Vice- Chancellor post.
104. A total of 44 applications and 47 nominations were received. Of these, 25 applications and 30 nominations came from the UK, nine applications and seven nomina- tions from the USA and Canada, two applications and one nomination from Australia, five
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applications and six nominations from Hong Kong, and three applications and three nominations from other countries. The Search Committee treated some 60 of these as serious possibilities and eventually shortlisted 16 for preliminary interview; 14 accepted the invitation to appear before the Committee.
105. Following preliminary interviews in London and Hong Kong, five candidates coming from the UK, USA, Australia and Hong Kong were selected for further assessment.
The overseas candidates went through a brief programme of orientation in Hong Kong. - In order to assist the Planning Committee in reaching a decision, each candidate made a presentation to the full Committee in which he outlined his approach to the task of setting- up and running the new University. These presentations were followed, on the same day, by final interviews conducted by the Search Committee.
106. At its meeting on 21 September 1987, the Planning Committee accepted the advice of the Search Committee that Dr Chia-Wei Woo should be recommended to the Hong Kong Government for appointment as Vice-Chancellor of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. This recommendation was approved by the Governor on 10 October 1987 and a formal announcement was made on 5 November 1987.