#Censorship
A foreign professor who lived in Hong Kong more than 20 years forced to leave,
"I will miss the people, the water and the islands here."
Anonym Jeff insisted on not showing his face and let us take a photo of his backside only. He came from the United States and arrived in Hong Kong early 90's to teach philosophy in university until now. In the meantime, he was active in social movements in Hong Kong. After he had an interview with media in one of the marches, his university canceled all his courses for "cost saving".
Jeff participated in the July 1st protests for many years. Walking to Victoria Park and finishing the whole journey every time. This year was the first time and probably the last that he decided to leave before finishing the entire route of the march. Regarding "National Security Law" (NSL), his fear is due to the unknown. "Government can do whatever they like. No checks or balances. You never know when you violate the law."
White terror permeates in the campus. Courses with "critical thinking" have been canceled.
After he finished the march on 1 July 2014, Hong Kong Federation of Students (HKFS) and Scholarism rehearsed to "occupy Central" at Charter Road in Central. Many protestors stayed behind overnight for a sit-in protest. However, all of them were arrested next day early morning. Jeff hurried to the spot and looked for his students, but to no avail. Subsequently, the umbrella revolution unfolded. Many professors taught lessons at Tamar for the young protestors, and Jeff was one of them. "We did as professors do."
A new principal came to town shortly after, one that compromised with the Government all the time. Jeff felt the approach of mainland universities was forced onto his school. The University banned teachers from discussing topics related to universal values, civil rights and civil society, etc. in the classes. "My course is to help students developing their critical thinking and teaching them to be a fit citizen of the world, etc. But the university didn't want me to teach that." The campus gave more pressure to restrict staff from participating in social movements. "No one stopped me at that moment, but the university clearly stated that I wasn't allowed to join."
He saw a fear of "Do not discuss politics", and it slowly became more and more obvious in the university. These few years, professors just obeyed the university management. "We don't discuss politics, and we don't talk anymore. We were alienated no matter what stances we took." White terror, means by which governments get people to be afraid to speak out.
Jeff found that students from mainland China were like "spies" monitoring the behaviour of him and his students. He recalled his memory about Ministerium für Staatssicherheit in East Germany. "The country had a file for everyone and everyone monitors each other."
Jeff designed his course with a focus on "critical thinking" and "morality". Last year, his courses were canceled suddenly by the university and replaced with applied science. He felt that that was nonsense. He frowned and said, "The school no longer expect or want their students to learn any morality." He felt that a part of his life was deprived when the university canceled his 26 year-old course. He grasped both his hands and said, "They took away something of utmost value in my life. I really love teaching."
Source: Inmedia
#Education #OccupyCentral #Professor #University
A foreign professor who lived in Hong Kong more than 20 years forced to leave,
"I will miss the people, the water and the islands here."
Anonym Jeff insisted on not showing his face and let us take a photo of his backside only. He came from the United States and arrived in Hong Kong early 90's to teach philosophy in university until now. In the meantime, he was active in social movements in Hong Kong. After he had an interview with media in one of the marches, his university canceled all his courses for "cost saving".
Jeff participated in the July 1st protests for many years. Walking to Victoria Park and finishing the whole journey every time. This year was the first time and probably the last that he decided to leave before finishing the entire route of the march. Regarding "National Security Law" (NSL), his fear is due to the unknown. "Government can do whatever they like. No checks or balances. You never know when you violate the law."
White terror permeates in the campus. Courses with "critical thinking" have been canceled.
After he finished the march on 1 July 2014, Hong Kong Federation of Students (HKFS) and Scholarism rehearsed to "occupy Central" at Charter Road in Central. Many protestors stayed behind overnight for a sit-in protest. However, all of them were arrested next day early morning. Jeff hurried to the spot and looked for his students, but to no avail. Subsequently, the umbrella revolution unfolded. Many professors taught lessons at Tamar for the young protestors, and Jeff was one of them. "We did as professors do."
A new principal came to town shortly after, one that compromised with the Government all the time. Jeff felt the approach of mainland universities was forced onto his school. The University banned teachers from discussing topics related to universal values, civil rights and civil society, etc. in the classes. "My course is to help students developing their critical thinking and teaching them to be a fit citizen of the world, etc. But the university didn't want me to teach that." The campus gave more pressure to restrict staff from participating in social movements. "No one stopped me at that moment, but the university clearly stated that I wasn't allowed to join."
He saw a fear of "Do not discuss politics", and it slowly became more and more obvious in the university. These few years, professors just obeyed the university management. "We don't discuss politics, and we don't talk anymore. We were alienated no matter what stances we took." White terror, means by which governments get people to be afraid to speak out.
Jeff found that students from mainland China were like "spies" monitoring the behaviour of him and his students. He recalled his memory about Ministerium für Staatssicherheit in East Germany. "The country had a file for everyone and everyone monitors each other."
Jeff designed his course with a focus on "critical thinking" and "morality". Last year, his courses were canceled suddenly by the university and replaced with applied science. He felt that that was nonsense. He frowned and said, "The school no longer expect or want their students to learn any morality." He felt that a part of his life was deprived when the university canceled his 26 year-old course. He grasped both his hands and said, "They took away something of utmost value in my life. I really love teaching."
Source: Inmedia
#Education #OccupyCentral #Professor #University
獨立媒體
【清算教育】居港廿年外籍教授被迫離港:不捨呢度嘅人、水、島嶼 | 獨媒報導 | 獨立媒體
(獨媒特約報導)一年前,人們一邊說著害怕「秋後算賬」,一邊誠惶誠恐的站了出來,上街、罷工、抗爭。一年後,社會抗爭氣氛轉淡,白色恐怖隨《港區國安法》無聲來臨,「秋後算賬」悄然開始。 教育界是首當其衝的行業之一。在高壓的政治環境下,教師連在課餘時間,也得小心翼翼:說一句「敏感」的話、like一個批評政府的帖子、參與一次合法遊行,已有可能令他們失去工作。
#AcademicFreedom #University
Cultural Revolution 2.0: China-run Newspapers Slam HKUST Professor for Breaching National Security Law
The Education Sector and academia in Hong Kong have been targeted by the pro-Beijing forces and Chinese Communist Party (#CCP) mouthpiece.
The CCP-loyal Wen Wei Po and Tai Kung Pao have published a series of reports which slammed Dr. Lee Ching-kwan, a professor of sociology at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (#HKUST), for her speech delivered in an online forum held by Hong Kong Democracy Council (#HKDC) in May 2020.
The CCP-owned newspaper accused Lee of "advocating Hong Kong Independence" and "violating the national security law".
Organizedby HKDC on May 26, the discussion topic of the forum was: "Is this the end of the 'One Country Two Systems'?".
The speakers included the former leaders of now-disbanded Demosistō Nathan Law Kwun-chung and Joshua Wong Chi-fung, as well as Benny Tai Yiu-ting, who is a former law professor of the University of Hong Kong (#HKU).
The video of the online forum was deleted on the Facebook page of the HKDC. According to the video spread by the Beijing-loyal presses, Lee said in English, "I think it helps not to think Hong Kong as a Chinese city. We don't belong to China...I don't think. We belong to the world."
Lee Ching-kwan was the Dr. Chung Sze-yuen Professor of Social Science at HKUST and the sociology professor of University of California, Los Angeles.
Source: Stand News #Nov20
#Censorship #Academia #UCLA #Professor #LeeChingKwan #CulturalRevolution
Cultural Revolution 2.0: China-run Newspapers Slam HKUST Professor for Breaching National Security Law
The Education Sector and academia in Hong Kong have been targeted by the pro-Beijing forces and Chinese Communist Party (#CCP) mouthpiece.
The CCP-loyal Wen Wei Po and Tai Kung Pao have published a series of reports which slammed Dr. Lee Ching-kwan, a professor of sociology at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (#HKUST), for her speech delivered in an online forum held by Hong Kong Democracy Council (#HKDC) in May 2020.
The CCP-owned newspaper accused Lee of "advocating Hong Kong Independence" and "violating the national security law".
Organizedby HKDC on May 26, the discussion topic of the forum was: "Is this the end of the 'One Country Two Systems'?".
The speakers included the former leaders of now-disbanded Demosistō Nathan Law Kwun-chung and Joshua Wong Chi-fung, as well as Benny Tai Yiu-ting, who is a former law professor of the University of Hong Kong (#HKU).
The video of the online forum was deleted on the Facebook page of the HKDC. According to the video spread by the Beijing-loyal presses, Lee said in English, "I think it helps not to think Hong Kong as a Chinese city. We don't belong to China...I don't think. We belong to the world."
Lee Ching-kwan was the Dr. Chung Sze-yuen Professor of Social Science at HKUST and the sociology professor of University of California, Los Angeles.
Source: Stand News #Nov20
#Censorship #Academia #UCLA #Professor #LeeChingKwan #CulturalRevolution
#Interview
University Professor in HK: Postponing my retirement plan, to stay in Hong Kong to teach critical thinking; I try my best to protect HK
Gordon Mathews, a Professor of #Anthropology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (#CUHK), has been appointed by the University since 1994.
Born in the US, he had stayed in a Japanese university and married a Japanese wife.
In Hong Kong, Prof. Mathews loves to visit Chungking Mansions, a well-known complex with an assembly of people coming from South Asia, Middle East, Africa and other countries.
From his field work, he published the book entitled "Slum in the center of the World: Chungking Mansions Hong Kong", aiming to tell the true stories of Hong Kong.
Read our fully translated article here:
https://telegra.ph/Hong-Kong-Chinese-University-Professor-postponing-my-retirement-plan-to-stay-in-Hong-Kong-to-teach-critical-t
Source: Stand News #Feb25
#Professor #Retirement #CriticalThinking #ProtectHK #GordonMathews
University Professor in HK: Postponing my retirement plan, to stay in Hong Kong to teach critical thinking; I try my best to protect HK
Gordon Mathews, a Professor of #Anthropology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (#CUHK), has been appointed by the University since 1994.
Born in the US, he had stayed in a Japanese university and married a Japanese wife.
In Hong Kong, Prof. Mathews loves to visit Chungking Mansions, a well-known complex with an assembly of people coming from South Asia, Middle East, Africa and other countries.
From his field work, he published the book entitled "Slum in the center of the World: Chungking Mansions Hong Kong", aiming to tell the true stories of Hong Kong.
Read our fully translated article here:
https://telegra.ph/Hong-Kong-Chinese-University-Professor-postponing-my-retirement-plan-to-stay-in-Hong-Kong-to-teach-critical-t
Source: Stand News #Feb25
#Professor #Retirement #CriticalThinking #ProtectHK #GordonMathews
#Academia #Oppression #FreedomOfSpeech #University
Lingnan University Terminates Adjunct Appointment of 2 Outspoken Professors
In response to inquiries by Stand News, the Hong Kong Lingnan University (#HKLU) indicated the adjunct appointment of Law Wing-Sang and Hui Po-Keung have ended in September 2021, and their names have been removed from the school website's list of faculty members. They were professors of Cultural Studies.
The university did not mention the reason for not renewing their contracts.
Law and Hui are scholars active in pro-democracy protest movements, commenting often on current affairs. At the beginning of the 2014 Umbrella Movement, after the police fired tear gas on the gathering crowds, the two publicly condemned the government's actions and went on strike as teachers.
Hui is also a trustee of the “612 Humanitarian Relief Fund”, a fund supporting those injured or arrested during the Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement.
After the implement of National Security Law, Law continued to comment on newspapers. He published an opinion piece in MingPao on September 3, 2021, saying that the implementation of the National Security Law had 'perfected' Hong Kong's democratic 'election' system overnight. It also put an end to the ongoing controversy over the pace of democratization since the city's “return to China”: “Hong Kong strides into the era of “authoritarian rule”.
Source: Stand News; #Sept30
https://www.thestandnews.com/society/a_%E5%B6%BA%E5%A4%A7%E8%88%87%E7%BE%85%E6%B0%B8%E7%94%9F%E8%A8%B1%E5%AF%B6%E5%BC%B7%E5%90%88%E7%B4%84%E7%B5%82%E7%B5%90-%E6%95%99%E8%81%B7%E5%93%A1%E5%90%8D%E5%96%AE%E5%B7%B2%E9%99%A4%E5%90%8D
#LingnanUniversity #HongKong #TearGas #NationalSecurityLaw #Censorship #Professor #LawWingSang #HuiPoKeung
Lingnan University Terminates Adjunct Appointment of 2 Outspoken Professors
In response to inquiries by Stand News, the Hong Kong Lingnan University (#HKLU) indicated the adjunct appointment of Law Wing-Sang and Hui Po-Keung have ended in September 2021, and their names have been removed from the school website's list of faculty members. They were professors of Cultural Studies.
The university did not mention the reason for not renewing their contracts.
Law and Hui are scholars active in pro-democracy protest movements, commenting often on current affairs. At the beginning of the 2014 Umbrella Movement, after the police fired tear gas on the gathering crowds, the two publicly condemned the government's actions and went on strike as teachers.
Hui is also a trustee of the “612 Humanitarian Relief Fund”, a fund supporting those injured or arrested during the Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement.
After the implement of National Security Law, Law continued to comment on newspapers. He published an opinion piece in MingPao on September 3, 2021, saying that the implementation of the National Security Law had 'perfected' Hong Kong's democratic 'election' system overnight. It also put an end to the ongoing controversy over the pace of democratization since the city's “return to China”: “Hong Kong strides into the era of “authoritarian rule”.
Source: Stand News; #Sept30
https://www.thestandnews.com/society/a_%E5%B6%BA%E5%A4%A7%E8%88%87%E7%BE%85%E6%B0%B8%E7%94%9F%E8%A8%B1%E5%AF%B6%E5%BC%B7%E5%90%88%E7%B4%84%E7%B5%82%E7%B5%90-%E6%95%99%E8%81%B7%E5%93%A1%E5%90%8D%E5%96%AE%E5%B7%B2%E9%99%A4%E5%90%8D
#LingnanUniversity #HongKong #TearGas #NationalSecurityLaw #Censorship #Professor #LawWingSang #HuiPoKeung
Harvard professor found guilty of hiding ties to Chinese-run recruitment program
A Harvard University professor charged with hiding his ties to a Chinese-run recruitment program has been found guilty on all counts.
Charles Lieber, 62, the former chair of Harvard’s department of chemistry and chemical biology, had pleaded not guilty to two counts of filing false tax returns, two counts of making false statements, and two counts of failing to file reports for a foreign bank account in China.
The jury deliberated for about two hours and 45 minutes before announcing the verdict after five days of testimony in Boston federal court.
Source: The Guardian #Dec22
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/dec/22/harvard-professor-found-guilty-of-hiding-ties-to-chinese-run-recruitment-program?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
#Professor #Recruitment #Guilty
A Harvard University professor charged with hiding his ties to a Chinese-run recruitment program has been found guilty on all counts.
Charles Lieber, 62, the former chair of Harvard’s department of chemistry and chemical biology, had pleaded not guilty to two counts of filing false tax returns, two counts of making false statements, and two counts of failing to file reports for a foreign bank account in China.
The jury deliberated for about two hours and 45 minutes before announcing the verdict after five days of testimony in Boston federal court.
Source: The Guardian #Dec22
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/dec/22/harvard-professor-found-guilty-of-hiding-ties-to-chinese-run-recruitment-program?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
#Professor #Recruitment #Guilty