The University of Hong Kong Students’ Union will hold a special election this month after an uproar about the standing of its 23-member ruling council.

The election has been called after Tam Chun-sing, who had been chairman, and Shum Hin-lung, who served as secretary, were removed from the council by a majority of the other members after the pair sought to delay indefinitely more action at the ballot box.

Acting chairman Yuen Kit-shing said the entire student body could vote for a new council in a March 25-28 election.

Last month’s election had been “unlawful” and “unconstitutional” because there had not been a neutral observer checking on the process, Yuen said.

The council had been accused by students at large of being under the control of “pro-government entities.”

That situation saw more than 1,000 students rallying last month to express dissatisfaction with some of their leaders and vows to protect the union’s integrity.

In the wake of the contentious election, an emergency council meeting was held and a motion of no confidence in Tam and Shum was passed and their removal supposedly secured.

Since then, however, there have been complaints of mass mailings and statements from Tam, with him still listed as council chairman.

Yuen said he hopes Tam will stop using the e-mail account of the students union and the council to issue what appear to be official messages. If it continues, Yuen warned, the matter will be reported to the police.

But Yuen said he is hoping to talk with Tam within two days, and he wants Shum to submit union council minutes.

The person now acting as secretary, Herman Koo Hei-man, admitted there are flaws in monitoring the council.

A spokeswoman for the university said the union’s autonomy is respected, and HKU authorities trust it will resolve matters. But assistance would be offered.

A urgent job is naming a student official to the selection panel for a vice chancellor to succeed Tsui Lap-chee.