The University Council of City University of Hong Kong (CityU) approved on 17 September a proposal to safeguard continuous employment as CityU staff for the 112 colleagues deployed to work at the Community College of City University (CCCU), by transferring them to work mainly on top-up programmes at the School of Continuing and Professional Education (SCOPE).

The proposal actualizes the University’s commitment towards the substantiation system. It will also enable CCCU to operate with a clean slate when it turns completely self-financing on 1 July2008. Moreover, the university will be relieved from a heavy financial burden. An option in an earlier plan would have obliged the University to pay perpetually for the benefits of staff deployed to work at CCCU.

Council members also approved at the special meeting the establishment of three committees and boards to monitor the transition and help SCOPE grow. The Management Committee on the Transition of CCCU Staff to SCOPE, chaired by Acting President Professor Richard Ho Yan-ki, will oversee the transitional implementation and management issues after the transition. The Board of School of Continuing and Professional Education, also chaired by Professor Ho, will help SCOPE sharpen its identity and make necessary changes in its structure. The Advisory Committee on School of Continuing and Professional Education, chaired by an outside member, will advise SCOPE on its strategic direction and development.