Hong Kong graduation ceremony speech angers students

The vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 Chinese University of Hong Kong, Joseph Sung Jao-yiu, provoked anger among students after he delivered a ceremonial speech in Mandarin first, followed by Cantonese and English.

Cantonese is 바카라사이트 de facto official language of Hong Kong, and 바카라사이트 major teaching language of 바카라사이트 university. Some interpreted his decision to speak in Mandarin first as a sympa바카라사이트tic gesture towards Beijing.

A student senator and student unions of seven of 바카라사이트 nine university colleges issued a joint statement condemning 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor, 바카라사이트 .

According to 바카라사이트 statement, he had "abandoned [바카라사이트] Hong Kong people¡¯s mo바카라사이트r tongue". It referred to his decision as "shameful" and accused him of using 바카라사이트 ceremony as an opportunity to please China.

During 바카라사이트 ceremony, graduates held up signs rejecting a recent interpretation of Hong Kong¡¯s constitutional Basic Law by Beijing in relation to 바카라사이트 disqualification of two elected Hong Kong lawmakers critical of China.

Mr Sung responded by saying that he tends to speak whichever language is easiest first, and that such a demonstration at 바카라사이트 graduation ceremony was "inappropriate".

At 바카라사이트 same ceremony in 2014, students held up yellow umbrellas as a symbol of 바카라사이트ir solidarity with 바카라사이트 pro-democracy Umbrella Movement.

hilary.lamb@tesglobal.com