The University of Hong Kong (HKU) fired veteran pro-democracy activist Benny Tai from his position as associate professor of law, a move he called “the end of academic freedom” in Chinese-ruled territory.
Without mentioning Tai by name, the university said in a statement that it reached the decision “through an appropriate and lengthy process,” but a leading pro-democracy observer warned on Wednesday that “without a group of” free and independent “academic institutions. “Hong Kong” would degenerate into a second-rate city. “
Tai was a leading figure in Hong Kong’s “Umbrella” protests in 2014, which paralyzed the city for 79 days when protesters took important steps to demand greater democracy.
He was sentenced to 16 months in prison last year for two annoying public offenses, but was released on bail pending an appeal, a conviction that prompted HKU to begin reviewing his position.
Tuesday’s ruling by the governing council reversed an earlier decision by the university senate that there was insufficient reason for a layoff.
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According to the Hong Kong Free Press, the university council voted 18-2 to eliminate Tai.
“It marks the end of academic freedom in Hong Kong,” Tai wrote on Facebook. “Academic institutions in Hong Kong cannot protect their members from internal and external interference.”
‘Attack on academic freedom’
Tai was also singled out by Beijing officials this month for his role in helping organize an unofficial primary vote for the pro-democracy camp to select candidates for the September elections to the city legislature.
Officials said the vote was illegal and potentially violated a new national security law that many fear will erode freedoms in the semi-autonomous city, including those of the media and academia.
In a statement Tuesday, the Hong Kong Liaison Office, Beijing’s main representation in the city, harshly criticized Tai, saying that his dismissal was “just an act of punishing evil, promoting good and complying with the will of the village”.
Academic tenure used to be a safeguard for freedom. #CCP intervenes higher education institutions. Xi who follows Mao’s creed that the academy hated? Without free and independent universities, #HK degenerates into a second-rate city. https://t.co/QH2LTX2z9O
– Jimmy Lai (@JimmyLaiApple) July 29, 2020
The statement said that Tai’s words and deeds had “severely intensified social conflict in Hong Kong and poisoned Hong Kong’s political environment.”
Beijing and the Hong Kong government have said the law will not affect rights and freedoms, and that it is necessary to fill the security loopholes.
Meanwhile, Nathaniel Lei, the university representative for the HKU council, told reporters after Tuesday’s vote that the decision “was a blatant trampling” of academic freedom.
HKU professor of politics Joseph Chan was also quoted by press reports as saying that the university “sacrificed its reputation” with the measure, adding that “it will not be able to keep its head in the international academic community.”
On Monday, Hong Kong Baptist University also announced that it would not renew the contract of outgoing Legislative Council member Shiu Ka-chun, for his role in pro-democracy protests.
SOURCE:
Al Jazeera and news agencies
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