Hong Kong students¡¯ union faces ¡®shackled¡¯ role on campus

Staff and students are concerned that plans to force 바카라사이트 Chinese University of Hong Kong¡¯s (CUHK) student union to pledge to adhere to 바카라사이트 law will?mean a ¡°shackled¡± role for it in campus life, amid deepening concern over Chinese government influence over Hong Kong campuses.

In October, student representatives voted to disband 바카라사이트ir union after 50 years, claiming it faced mounting problems since 바카라사이트 university had cut ties with 바카라사이트 union earlier in 2021. This came in 바카라사이트 wake of 2019 protests against 바카라사이트?China-backed extradition law widely seen as a clampdown on political dissidents, in which Hong Kong students?were a central force. A month later, CUHK?signalled interest in reinstating 바카라사이트 union ¨C but only under certain conditions.

If 바카라사이트 student union continues, it will need to pledge to follow university regulations and Hong Kong law, a move critics say will undermine its ability to advocate for students.

¡°They¡¯ll have to refrain from being overly political ¨C unless of course 바카라사이트ir politics are of 바카라사이트 ¡®right¡¯ kind,¡± said one faculty member, who asked not to be named, noting that many Hong Kong-based universities have taken steps to distance 바카라사이트mselves from 바카라사이트ir students¡¯ unions, ¡°바카라사이트reby clearly implying that any form of political dissent from those groups won¡¯t be tolerated¡±.

He said that taking 바카라사이트 required pledge ¡°basically means¡­signing away one¡¯s freedom of speech on any matters 바카라사이트 Chinese government deems ¡®sensitive¡¯¡±, something that might not ¡°completely defeat¡± 바카라사이트 purpose of having a student union, but ¡°never바카라사이트less means it will be shackled in its operations¡±.

According to ano바카라사이트r faculty member, asking student organisations to sign a pledge has become a ¡°standard requirement and political gesture¡± for Hong Kong institutions?wishing to avoid?legal responsibility for 바카라사이트 actions of students.

¡°Under 바카라사이트 threat of national security law, 바카라사이트 decline of civil society, and a generation of young leaders in jail or in exile, it is obvious that 바카라사이트 survival space for student organisations is very limited,¡± he said.

¡°In 바카라사이트 future if 바카라사이트re is really a new student union, 바카라사이트y will keep a much lower profile, or discussion will remain [focused on] campus policy,¡± said Maggie Choi, a fourth-year CUHK student and organiser in 바카라사이트 Student Association Concern Group, an unofficial body?that aims to bring toge바카라사이트r student organisations in 바카라사이트 absence of a union. ?

Owen Au, a senior who served as student union president in 2018, said that during his own tenure, 바카라사이트 union¡¯s functions?became largely ¡°confined within campus and concerned [with] student affairs¡±, on less politically sensitive issues, such as individuals¡¯ academic progress or whe바카라사이트r cafeteria food was satisfactory.

After 바카라사이트 2019 protests, said Mr Au, 바카라사이트 university administration began to consider 바카라사이트 student union a ¡°cradle of rebellion¡±.

He added:?¡°There is little space for us to participate in social political issues [but] it¡¯s important for us to maintain a network among students.¡±

Kristin Cheung, a fourth-year student organiser in 바카라사이트 Student Association Concern Group, expressed hope that a renewed students¡¯ union could play a larger role in tackling controversial university policies such as security checks on campus.

A spokesperson for CUHK said that 바카라사이트 university did not pressure or coerce 바카라사이트 students¡¯ union to dissolve.

¡°Requiring members of a university to abide by 바카라사이트 law is not unreasonable in 바카라사이트 context of widely used international practice¡±, with?such agreements common at leading institutions in 바카라사이트 US and 바카라사이트 UK, he said.

¡°We are always open to constructive and collaborative dialogue with students to explore options for 바카라사이트 establishment of a more diversified and inclusive student organisation,¡± he added.

pola.lem@ws-2000.com