In recognition of his services to education he was presented with the degree of Doctor of Civil Law (honoris causa) by the University of East Anglia in 2007.
In November 2006 the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Arthur Li, indicated that Shue Yan College would be made a university title, but that HKIEd would not.
Subsequently, on 25 January 2007, the governing Council of the Institute decided not to extend Morris's tenure as President after the end of his contract, in a vote of 10 to 3 with 3 abstentions.
Morris maintained he had been told by the Chairman of the Council, Thomas Leung Kwok-fai, that his tenure would be terminated unless he agreed to the merger of the Institute with the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK).
On 2 February 2007, 10 external HKIEd Council members held a conference with editors of press to explain their reasons for not reappointing Morris as President.
It concluded, with regard to the specific allegations, that "it was improper for someone of Mrs (Fanny) Law's position (then Permanent Secretary for Education and Manpower), to attempt to silence critics by addressing them personally or through their superiors."
The court of first instance held that on this matter the Permanent Secretary's approach did not violate the Institute's right to academic freedom, and the judicial review was allowed in March 2009.