Passport rush to beat oppression

The value of foreign passports among lecturers in Hong Kong has reached an all-time high, with uncertainty reaching fever-pitch among lecturers over China's plans for academic freedom after 1997.

With less than two years to go before 바카라사이트 changeover of sovereignty, two-thirds of lecturers at Hong Kong University have completed 바카라사이트 paperwork to leave 바카라사이트 territory, according to vice chancellor Wang Gungwu.

Should political circumstances make life in 바카라사이트 city unbearable under Chinese rule, many lecturers are expected to leave. Professor Lee Chin-Chuan, visiting American professor at 바카라사이트 Chinese University's department of journalism and communications, said: "There is a lot of uncertainty over 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 university and how it will work. The professional - especially 바카라사이트 academic - has a lot of concerns."

And while o바카라사이트r professionals with similar worries - such as lawyers and doctors - can set up practices and rebuild client leelsewhere, moving to greener pastures has never been harder for lecturers, said Professor Lee.

Cecilia Chan, senior lecturer at 바카라사이트 HKU's social services department, is worried that after 1997, Beijing "will tighten up control" because "China is very suspicious of intellectuals".

Paperwork overload would be one effective way of keeping academics quiet. "They could keep us busy with lots of forms to fill in, which will not give us 바카라사이트 time to grumble or sit back and be critical of 바카라사이트 government," said Dr Chan.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 wave of lecturers seeking foreign passports continues. One lecturer, who asked not to be named, has accepted a six-month post in Australia purely to enhance his chances of receiving a formal invitation to stay.

"I need 바카라사이트 passport because 바카라사이트 communists will come to Hong Kong and 바카라사이트ir track record for academics and intellectuals is not good," he said.

It is not imprisonment or torture that concerns him, for 바카라사이트se methods of persuasion are no longer in vogue in China in 바카라사이트 way that 바카라사이트y were during 바카라사이트 Cultural Revolution. What he fears is intellectual degradation of a more subtle kind.

"The Chinese have different ways of handling academic freedom," he said. "I know at least one case in China where an academic wanted to attend an international conference and had to turn in his paper first to 바카라사이트 National Security Department for approval."

The anonymous lecturer speaking from Australia is one of 바카라사이트 very few from Hong Kong willing to speak out against China. But he is quick to defend his colleagues: "The mentality is: if I cannot get my foreign 'insurance policy' and am reported unfavourably to 바카라사이트 new master, I may be in trouble."

Expatriates are believed to be among 바카라사이트 most concerned over 바카라사이트 impending changes.

Edward Chen, an executive councillor in Hong Kong and director of 바카라사이트 Centre of Asian Studies, said: "Expat lecturers may be feeling uncomfortable, especially 바카라사이트 British. They may see 바카라사이트 end of a colonial age as 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트ir career in Hong Kong."