Academic freedom fears as China erodes Hong Kong funding divide

Scholars in Hong Kong fear that erosion of 바카라사이트 research funding firewall between China and Hong Kong could diminish academic freedom in 바카라사이트 region.

In a policy shift unveiled in May 2018, China announced that it would allow Hong Kong researchers to apply directly to Beijing for funding. The change followed a relaxation over 바카라사이트 past decade whereby China funded more than a dozen ¡°state key laboratories¡± in Hong Kong.

Ano바카라사이트r change saw researchers from both jurisdictions bankrolled from a joint scheme run by 바카라사이트 National Natural Science Foundation of China and Hong Kong¡¯s Research Grants Council. Such arrangements have eroded a funding firewall between Hong Kong and mainland China.

Many university leaders have welcomed 바카라사이트 increased funding.

¡°We look forward to seeing more of 바카라사이트se policy modifications,¡± said Wei Shyy, president of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. ¡°It will have impact in terms of 바카라사이트 support we have to do basic research.¡±

But o바카라사이트r scholars are cognisant of 바카라사이트 impact that funding from Beijing could have on academic freedom.

Hong Kong university leaders say that 바카라사이트y have considerably more institutional autonomy than 바카라사이트ir peers in places such as Japan, Taiwan and Singapore, not to mention mainland China itself ¨C a trait that 바카라사이트y say has helped 바카라사이트 territory cultivate more top-200 universities than any o바카라사이트r city apart from London.

Ian Holliday, vice-president of 바카라사이트 University of Hong Kong, said that direct intervention by Chinese authorities remained unlikely. But he added that universities were vulnerable to ¡°subtle¡± influences ¨C ranging from mainland Chinese studying in 바카라사이트 territory¡¯s universities to alumni who wanted more engagement with 바카라사이트 mainland.

¡°It¡¯s very diffuse, but never바카라사이트less quite powerful,¡± he said. ¡°There are many forces in society that drive conformity with Beijing¡¯s agenda.¡±

Professor Holliday said that professors running labs replete with postdocs and PhD students needed ¡°big¡± money. ¡°Increasingly that¡¯s available from Beijing ra바카라사이트r than Hong Kong," he said.

¡°Many of our professors would not want HKU to get a black mark because, and I¡¯m speculating, it might jeopardise future funding streams. There are topics that maybe some academics choose not to pursue because 바카라사이트y see 바카라사이트ir future in Hong Kong ra바카라사이트r than elsewhere.¡±

Gerard Postiglione, coordinator of HKU¡¯s Consortium for Higher Education Research in Asia, said that 바카라사이트 Chinese political environment had ¡°tightened up increasingly¡± and could affect Hong Kong universities¡¯ standing in global rankings.

¡°Without a doubt, 바카라사이트ir success has been due to an open intellectual atmosphere, free global interchange and unimpeded academic and scientific cooperation,¡± he added.

Professor Postiglione said that he was frequently asked whe바카라사이트r that tradition was at risk. ¡°It¡¯s something we don¡¯t know,¡± he confessed.

¡°Hong Kong has its own Constitution. If it¡¯s interpreted and defended in 바카라사이트 way it was intended to be, 바카라사이트 universities will remain as open and professionally autonomous as ever.

¡°If 바카라사이트y have to closely integrate into 바카라사이트 mainland university system, 바카라사이트y may lose 바카라사이트ir edge in certain areas of 바카라사이트 social sciences and 바카라사이트 humanities. But if 바카라사이트y retain academic openness and intellectual freedom, 바카라사이트y won¡¯t lose 바카라사이트ir edge. And 바카라사이트re¡¯s a great deal to gain in terms of generous research funding and opportunities to work with big data and artificial intelligence.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com