14 DAY TRIAL // Ufologists in Hong Kong harshly criticized the Hong Kong University (HKU) for dropping a proposed UFO course, to be provided as an optional subject for those willing to learn about alleged alien sightings and space crafts. Sources inside the University told AFP that pressure from faculty members made the management change its options on making the subject available to students. The curriculum was prepared in collaboration with the HK Institute of Ufology.
“Some members of the university's science faculty were concerned that the course would present only the views of the UFO experts. But we believed that they were just worried about the possibility of ufology becoming a mainstream discipline at the university,” said Moon Fong, one of the committee members of the institute. She also argued that this was a common problem for universities overseas, where such subjects are cast aside and laughed at.
On the other hand, Albert Chau, HKU's director of general education, said that "Some colleagues suggested that there were different ways to look at the subject. We decided that the suggestion was a good one and that there was a need to reorganize the course." He claimed that the cancellation was not a result of any interference from other faculty members, as representatives of the Institute of Ufology claimed.
Chau went on to say that discussions over the content of the course were still underway at the University, but that those involved could not specify an exact time or date when the courses would be resumed. First scheduled to be offered to students in September 2008, the UFO course was postponed several times, until it was finally canceled.
The HKU representative said that he could not offer guarantees as to whether the course would be offered in the future in its present shape, or if it would receive a thorough change.