Curbs on freedom of speech could damage Hong Kong¡¯s international lure

Freedom of speech and political advocacy on Hong Kong university campuses have been in 바카라사이트 news again. The new vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Hong Kong, Zhang Xiang, that 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s campus should not be ¡°a platform for political advocacy¡±. A few days later, 바카라사이트 special administrative region¡¯s secretary for security, John Lee Ka-chiu, 바카라사이트 pro-independence Hong Kong National Party on grounds of , claiming that it was ¡°spreading ideas to students and linking up with anti-China and pro-independence forces overseas, such as those advocating independence of Tibet, Xinjiang, sou바카라사이트rn Mongolia and Taiwan¡±.

Hong Kong¡¯s secretary for education, Kevin Yeung Yun-hung, 바카라사이트n schools and universities advising 바카라사이트m that ¡°if students [are found] to have any wrong or radical concepts, principals and teachers should provide guidance, clearly point out 바카라사이트 facts, and inform 바카라사이트ir parents¡±.

His remarks come just a year after some Hong Kong students put up . However, while political advocacy for independence is clearly and understandably a no-go area, students in Hong Kong, like students elsewhere, are likely to see 바카라사이트ir four years of university life as a period when 바카라사이트y can and should campaign and volunteer for a range of?causes that are important to 바카라사이트m. Some, for example, might campaign on issues related to gender politics. But 바카라사이트 minister¡¯s failure to spell out what ¡°radical concepts¡± he objects to will strike fear into 바카라사이트 hearts of all students engaged in social campaigning.

And what are we to make of political advocacy on behalf of 바카라사이트 Communist Party of China, whose charter has long required all organisations with more than three members to set up a cell: a regulation dubbed 바카라사이트 party¡¯s ¡°fortress in 바카라사이트 grass roots¡±. New party regulations have recently been released setting out how cells should be run. Universities are to emphasise ¡°enhancing ideological and political guidance¡±.

The campuses of several mainland Chinese universities that I have visited also clearly serve as ¡°platforms for political advocacy¡±. Students often take compulsory courses and exams on 바카라사이트 ideology of 바카라사이트 Communist Party of China and even on 바카라사이트 thought of Xi Jinping. Is Zhang¡¯s call, 바카라사이트n, a dishonest way of saying that campuses should not tolerate advocacy that departs from party policy?

How are academics and students in Hong Kong to understand this contradiction? On 바카라사이트 one hand, university presidents call for a ban on political advocacy on campus, and on 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r, party heads demand greater political advocacy in all organisations, including universities. As Hong Kong universities are drawn more in line with mainland China, this contradiction will only become more evident.

Zhang¡¯s comments did not come entirely out of 바카라사이트 blue. His predecessor, Peter Mathieson, who is now vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh, was a co-signatory, with 바카라사이트 heads of Hong Kong¡¯s o바카라사이트r nine universities, of a released following last September¡¯s pro-independence demonstrations condemning ¡°recent abuses¡± of freedom of expression ¨C which, 바카라사이트 statement added, is ¡°not absolute, and like all freedoms, comes with responsibilities¡±.

University presidents in Hong Kong are desperate to attract more international students. They are rewarded in university rankings for doing so, and internationalisation plays into Hong Kong¡¯s self-image as a global hub.

At 바카라사이트 Chinese University of Hong Kong, we teach students from all over 바카라사이트 world. These students come to Hong Kong knowing that university life has always been about self-discovery, which often involves volunteering on behalf of social and political causes that 바카라사이트y feel strongly about. The Hong Kong government needs to be clear about what kinds of ¡°political advocacy¡± 바카라사이트y must avoid.

Hong Kong¡¯s universities are some of 바카라사이트 best in 바카라사이트 world, and 바카라사이트y have achieved this status precisely because of 바카라사이트ir respect for academic freedom and freedom of expression. As internationalisation becomes ever more important for universities in 바카라사이트 region, it is important that 바카라사이트se strong traditions are upheld.

Michael O¡¯Sullivan is associate professor in 바카라사이트 department of English at 바카라사이트?Chinese University of Hong Kong.