A COUPLE of months ago academics would have been desperate to have their names appear in The Economist, laughs a professor at one of Hong Kong’s foremost universities, as she talks during an encrypted phone call. Now she, like every professor from the territory’s universities interviewed for this article, will speak only on condition of anonymity. Such has been the extraordinary effect of China’s national-security law in a city that until recently prided itself on its vibrant seats of learning.
That all changed when, at the end of June, the CCP pushed through its smothering national-security law , over the head of Hong Kong’s legislature. The law criminalises acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces. It gives authorities extra rights to conduct searches and to appoint judges to try cases—and to extradite suspects to the mainland to face trial under Chinese jurisprudence. Infringements carry harsh penalties, potentially including life imprisonment.
That is already having a stifling effect. One history professor told The Economist that his colleagues have decided to stop teaching classes on China. He himself is nervous even about addressing topics such as the American revolution, in case class discussions alight on the touchy subject of democracy.
Another danger is that what academics may research will be policed. Hong Kong’s most important research-grant-awarding body is the University Grants Committee . The government has injected HK$20bn into its endowment fund. UGC is adamant that it is both independent from government interference and committed to academic freedom—relying on, for example, peer review to decide to whom it should disburse money. But its members are appointed by Hong Kong’s chief executive, who answers to China.
Nor is this solely a matter for humanities and law faculties, looking into irksome questions of democracy, history or localism. “It is a myth that there are ‘safe’ disciplines,” says Robert Quinn of Scholars At Risk, an NGO. “Take for example a professor of public health, who is investigating whether a country’s response to covid-19 has been handled well. They may not intend to embarrass [China], but they might do just that.
Lucas10090340 CCP is killing every freedom in HongKong Academic, press, speech, election and so on...
Lucas10090340 The truth and history are being modified. The students will not understand the truth on protest and the importance on freedom and democracy. The students will be brain washed by biased textbooks, just like in China.
To “brainwash the public,” it is necessary to deploy obscurantism and to make the public as uninformed as possible.
FactcheckingCon really?
Guess what? CCP is trying to suffocate academic freedom wherever it exists, because it is an existential threat for them.
LimCLoong C̵h̵i̵n̵a̵ ̵i̵s̵ ̵k̵i̵l̵l̵i̵n̵g̵ ̵a̵c̵a̵d̵e̵m̵i̵c̵ ̵f̵r̵e̵e̵d̵o̵m̵ ̵i̵n̵ ̵H̵o̵n̵g̵ ̵K̵o̵n̵g̵.̵ C̵h̵i̵n̵a̵ ̵i̵s̵ ̵k̵i̵l̵l̵i̵n̵g̵ ̵f̵r̵e̵e̵d̵o̵m̵ ̵i̵n̵ ̵H̵o̵n̵g̵ ̵K̵o̵n̵g̵.̵ China is killing Hong Kong.
FreeHongKong
Crushing academic freedom is prelude to evil NationalSecurityLaw. CCP broke the sino British declaration and is now occupying HongKong illegally. The world must standby UK to restore autonomy of Hong Kong. HKIndependence
Killing—killed
Ccp tries to remove the sensitive topics in the textbooks. It intends to hide the truth related to June 4th incident & civil disobedience etc. It may help to brainwash the students. We must uphold the academic freedom. That’s unacceptable for ccp to kill academic freedom in hk!
The Education bureau has removed sensitive contents from textbooks, which means discussion on related topics is heavily restricted. Students discussing these topics may violate the law.
CCP has great influence to HK universities. A friend of mine who works in the uni told me, they were asked to remove slogan such as 'I want universal suffrage' in the office because someone complaint about it to the school. People don't enjoy freedom of expression in uni anymore.
From CCP's point of view, freedom of anything is their enemy
We used to proud of the education systems which’s different from China so students can learn how to think critically n enjoy academic freedom like digging into the real history of CCP. Yet, communists always think intelligence, knowledge, professionals are the threats.
China is killing freedom in all forms. HongKong government is assisting the propaganda campaign of China. They change the content of the textbook.
Textbooks are seriously censored, turned into 🧠 washing materials. Self-censorship - Benny Tai fired - censorship projects by the govt I am afraid the next generation will become little pinks. academicFreedom
The Education bureau has removed sensitive contents from textbooks, which means discussion on related topics us heavily restricted. Students discussing these topics may violate the law.
NOT ONLY KILLING ACADEMICS BUT 💥ALL KINDS💥 OF FREEDOM‼️ NOT ONLY KILLING ACADEMICS BUT 💥ALL KINDS💥 OF FREEDOM‼️
China 🇨🇳 is dangerous for the world 🌎 Uigjers Virus Huwaei Virus Tik tok
Academic freedom is the pillar of modern society, because people can discuss different things at school without pressure from anyone By destroying academic freedom, the last place for having unrestricted free thought is gone
It was killed
Academic freedom in Hong Kong is under threat. Ranging from textbook censorship to cancelling public exam questions, the world can see how HKGov and CCP are interfering freedom of speech and academic freedom.
Textbook censorship and laying off tenure professors for political reasons, HK is no longer an ideal place for scholars nor int’l students.
This is real StandWithHongKong
CCPChina has changed HK textbook contents to avoid stimulating China dictatorship. CCP_is_terrorist AntiChinazi
The CCP_is_terrorist knows that how altering education can change the next generation. We should stand firm to protect our academic freedom. StandWithHongKong
cutting anti gov mind is what ccp doing.
False. Western countries are backing terrorist activities against HK infrastructure. We saw many USA officials near that nerd Joshua Wong and similar thugs. The UK and the USA wouldn't accept a foreign revolt funded by China ion their respective soils. Don't mess with China!
Oppressive regimes always have in their game plan to eliminate the intelligentsia.
When the Americans brought 'democracy 'to the Middle East, the people there turned their backs on it.17 years of destroying and killing should not gain any result, US must consider withdrawing,while there in HK , people are looking forward to what the Middle East people spit on
Let's work to take down CCP
Lack of academic freedom will only lead to stagnation in the long term - it is one of the main factors why the West accelerated away in the 1700s with Enlightenment, as Mokyr argues in A Culture for Growth
And rightfully so
Unfortunately, their underground trains still run on time.