The head of City University (CityU) has said his institution can accept a Hong Kong government funding cut of about 3 to 5 per cent in the next three years, while warning that drastic reductions will hamper long-term development.
Advertisement
Freddy Boey, president of CityU, said on Thursday that the university preferred not to sack staff amid possible funding cuts, and instead focus on a digitalisation programme to enhance efficiency.
Boey cautioned that funding cuts by the government in the next triennium, the three academic years 2025-28, should avoid being drastic as that would require the university to take a long time to catch up.
“If there is a cut, we are anticipating trying our best to make up for it. I would say that 3 to 5 [per cent] will be something that will be very significant, but I think it’s something that we can bear with,” he said.
He added that local universities were not alone in facing cuts, as overseas institutions in the United Kingdom and Australia were also receiving lower funding.
Advertisement
His remarks followed comments by education minister Christine Choi Yuk-lin, who said authorities would push through a reduction of university funding amid a government deficit that was expected to be about HK$100 billion (US$12.8 billion) this financial year.