New rules for our University Chancellor and musicians

The Chancellor of Hong Kong's universities has always assumed the role of a titular figurehead who basically does not play any administrative or actual governing role for the universities. The chief executives of our universities are the Vice-Chancellors, or Presidents if you prefer a more modern terminology. The appointment of Chancellor as a titular or ceremonial leader is pretty much a tradition inherited from the colonial time. The subtlety of this system is the implied autonomy and freedom of our universities where opinions are allowed to flow freely. The system has worked well so far, and the "rule" has always been observed. At least there were no signs of explicit or visible deviation of this tradition by any former Governor or Chief Executive. The "rule" has become part of the set of values shared by most members of society. Yesterday, the Hong Kong Federation of Students requested the government to abolish the automatic appointment of the Chief Executive as Chancellor of universities and threatened to boycott classes if their voices are not heard. What? I am confused! I thought our Beijing official's (Mr Chen Zuoer's) earlier criticism* about the poor implementation of de-colonisation in Hong Kong was unenthusiastically received by students, but how come they are now fighting to abolish a colonial tradition!