Hong Kong leader gives up Cambridge honorary fellowship

Hong Kong¡¯s embattled leader has rescinded her honorary fellowship from Wolfson College, Cambridge and hit back against criticism of her handling of academic freedom.

Various groups had been petitioning Wolfson College to remove Carrie Lam¡¯s title since late 2019, amid?government crackdowns?on pro-democracy demonstrations that included campus clashes and student arrests.?

Wolfson College had been reconsidering Ms Lam¡¯s title since at least early July, after 바카라사이트 passing of a security law that has?sparked fears about academic freedom from both?overseas?and?local scholars.?

At that time, 바카라사이트 college issued?saying that it was ¡°deeply concerned about recent events in Hong Kong following 바카라사이트 enactment of 바카라사이트 National Security Law. The governing body will be considering Mrs Lam¡¯s position as an honorary fellow of 바카라사이트 college.¡± ?

Ms Lam?on her official Facebook page over 바카라사이트 weekend that she was relinquishing 바카라사이트 fellowship, after receiving correspondence from 바카라사이트 college. She called accusations that her administration had unfairly punished teachers and students ¡°groundless¡± and said Wolfson College ¡°did not provide any corroborating evidence¡± of its claims. ?

She said it had become ¡°very difficult to convince myself to continue to have links with Wolfson College¡±,?adding that Hong Kong universities had academic freedom and institutional autonomy.

Wolfson College??and said it would not go ahead with discussions, set for next month, about her title. It said it?had ¡°raised concerns¡± about Ms Lam¡¯s ¡°commitment to 바카라사이트 protection of human rights and 바카라사이트 freedom of expression¡±.

Ms Lam was given 바카라사이트 honorary fellowship in 2017 after she became 바카라사이트 first woman to be appointed Hong Kong¡¯s leader. She attended Cambridge in 바카라사이트 early 1980s, when 바카라사이트 바카라사이트n-British Hong Kong government supported her in attending a diploma course.

The awarding of UK titles to Hong Kong figures has come under increasing scrutiny. Last October, Anglia Ruskin University stripped an honorary degree?from Junius Ho, a pro-Beijing Hong Kong lawmaker who had been accused of having links to clashes in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong is caught in 바카라사이트 middle of a debate about academic freedom, which is seen from vastly different points of view in China and 바카라사이트 West. There has been public pushback against police and government actions against student protesters and critical teaching staff.

Thousands have signed?and?asking 바카라사이트 University of Hong Kong (HKU) and Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) to revoke 바카라사이트 dismissals of politically critical teaching staff.

Benny Tai, a democracy leader and law professor who was?fired from HKU, has said that he is going to appeal?바카라사이트 decision.

joyce.lau@ws-2000.com?