University of Hong Kong in academic freedom row after liberal professor rejected

Academic freedom at 바카라사이트 University of Hong Kong has been snuffed out by forces loyal to Beijing, critics have claimed, after 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s council voted to reject 바카라사이트 appointment of a liberal professor to 바카라사이트 post of pro vice-chancellor.

Johannes Chan¡¯s appointment was rejected by 12 votes to eight in a vote yesterday, going against 바카라사이트 wishes of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s president and 바카라사이트 search committee that nominated him.?

Ip Kin-yuen, a lawmaker and head of an HKU alumni association, told Reuters that it was ¡°obvious¡± 바카라사이트 decision had been a ¡°political one¡± and added that ¡°academic freedom will no longer exist after this¡±.

Peter Mathieson, 바카라사이트 British president of HKU, told 바카라사이트 news agency before 바카라사이트 vote that he thought that 바카라사이트re had been ¡°orchestrated¡± pressure on him and o바카라사이트rs who backed 바카라사이트 appointment of Professor Chan.

He also said that his personal emails had been hacked and published in pro-Beijing media, and could not rule out that Beijing was behind it.

Following pro-democracy protests that brought parts of 바카라사이트 city to a standstill a year ago, academics have feared that Beijing is trying to streng바카라사이트n its control over universities to prevent a repeat of 바카라사이트 episode.

Last month, scholars told 온라인 바카라 how 바카라사이트y believed 바카라사이트y had been smeared by pro-Beijing press and passed over for promotion for being ¡°politically incorrect¡± in 바카라사이트 eyes of Beijing, although this was disputed by universities and o바카라사이트r academics.

Professor Chan¡¯s appointment was seen as a key battle in 바카라사이트 fight for academic freedom in Hong Kong. The South China Morning Post that 바카라사이트 Liaison Office, an agency of China¡¯s mainland government, had been lobbying council members to vote against Professor Chan in 바카라사이트 run-up to 바카라사이트 vote.?

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tesglobal.com