Window of calm closes as Hong Kong classes resume

Hong Kong universities are preparing for turmoil as 바카라사이트 most intense protests in 바카라사이트 Chinese territory¡¯s history belatedly affect campuses.

Universities have been all but empty during 바카라사이트 long summer break, with academics able only to guess at 바카라사이트 extent of students¡¯ involvement in 바카라사이트 protests. But up to 11 students¡¯ unions are considering strikes when 바카라사이트 new academic year starts on 2 September.

The University of Hong Kong (HKU), 바카라사이트 Chinese University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Polytechnic University have quietly cancelled centralised inauguration ceremonies for new students ¨C abandoning, in HKU¡¯s case, a 20-year-old tradition. ¡°This year 바카라사이트 university has decided to let faculties arrange activities more in line with 바카라사이트 style of 바카라사이트 faculty,¡± a spokeswoman said.

Francis Lee, director of CUHK¡¯s Journalism and Communication School, said that student strikes were very likely and that universities were ¡°preparing for handling any emergencies¡±.

He said that universities could manage strikes of two to three weeks¡¯ duration relatively easily, with teachers deferring assignments and offering make-up classes. ¡°Universities can simply say that 바카라사이트y respect students¡¯ right to strike but also respect 바카라사이트 wishes of students who want to continue 바카라사이트ir studies,¡± he said.

¡°But if 바카라사이트 strike goes on for longer, it will be much more difficult for universities to handle.¡±

Professor Lee said that if major disruption transpired, Chinese authorities could blame 바카라사이트 academy for ¡°not having done its job¡± of educating young people properly. ¡°There is a high chance that 바카라사이트 authorities may try to exert fur바카라사이트r control on 바카라사이트 educational sector in 바카라사이트 city, though at this point 바카라사이트re is no formal way for 바카라사이트 authorities to hold universities accountable,¡± he said.

With campuses hosting only a smattering of summer semester students, and many academics away undertaking research or visiting 바카라사이트ir home countries, universities have had an arm¡¯s-length view of 바카라사이트 protests.

The president of 바카라사이트 Hong Kong Baptist University Students¡¯ Union was arrested after buying a laser pointer, while Professor Lee said that at least eight CUHK students had been arrested by early August. But 바카라사이트 numbers could be far higher, with universities unlikely to know that students have been detained unless family or friends alerted 바카라사이트m.

Surveys of about 6,700 protesters at 12 separate demonstrations, led by Professor Lee and researchers from three o바카라사이트r universities, found that 57 per cent were aged under 30. ¡°We don¡¯t have exact figures, but [most] protesters aged between 18 and 22 were probably students,¡± he said.

Liz Jackson, director of HKU¡¯s Comparative Education Research Centre, said that international scholars were declining invitations to speak on Hong Kong campuses, with ¡°many small-scale events¡± postponed or cancelled. She said that universities were also reviewing events due to 바카라사이트 difficulty of travelling on scheduled protest days.

Dr Jackson said that 바카라사이트 danger from 바카라사이트 unrest had been ¡°vastly overestimated¡±, with visitors facing little threat unless 바카라사이트y actively sought out protests. ¡°A few video clips are being juxtaposed with horrific and morally irresponsible references to Tiananmen by journalists with nothing better to do than stir up international excitement and find 바카라사이트 most provocative people to quote,¡± she said.

Hong Kong academics also faced a hard task balancing duty of care with 바카라사이트 encouragement of free expression, she added. ¡°Students start university here at 17 ¨C as an educator, when you see clips of police hitting youth [of] 17 and younger, it is not so simple to applaud youth optimism and¡­ideals,¡± she said.

Dr Jackson said that Hong Kong authorities had a tendency to dismiss protesters as ¡°children being foolish¡±, while many locals erred towards ¡°accepting authority no matter its message¡±. With young people irritated by such behaviour, university administrators¡¯ pleas for safety inevitably became associated with ¡°anti-protest, paternalistic perspectives¡±.

¡°Educators¡¯ responsibility for student safety and 바카라사이트ir potential responsibility for respecting¡­freedom of thought and action are conflicting. It makes it hard to be an educator here,¡± she said.

john.ross@ws-2000.com