#Newspaper
Hong Kong’s contentious national security law concerns some academics
China’s plan to introduce a new security law in Hong Kong has prompted mixed reactions from scientists there. Some fear that such a law could lead to government interference in research, restrict participation in international collaborations and increase self-censorship, whereas others are confident that research will be unaffected.
“Academics in Hong Kong are very concerned about possible changes,” says an administrator at a university in Hong Kong who requested anonymity because they think their university is under pressure to publicly support the security law. They worry that a national security law could be used to restrict the publication of sensitive research, such as studies on the new coronavirus. Scientists on the mainland need government approval to publish research relating to the origins of the pandemic.
A Hong Kong-based editorial board member for a scientific journal who also requested anonymity because they need permission to speak to the press, says they are worried that foreign research grants or international collaborations — particularly with the United States — could be defined as foreign interference and restricted under the law.
Some academics think that one of the greatest effects the new law will have on research will be an increase in self-censorship. Researchers are already wary about making comments or publishing research that could upset the central government — work that could distress financial markets, for example, such as negative results from a large vaccine trial... whether or not they’re at risk of breaking the law...
A foreign researcher who studies science and ethics at a university in Hong Kong, who requested anonymity for fear their comments could jeopardize their work visa, says they no longer feel able to criticize the science and technology practices of the central government while living in Hong Kong, and worry that the security law could bring the risk of prison sentences for such criticisms... a visiting environmental researcher at the City University of Hong Kong, says she doesn’t think her research on environment management and governance in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan is particularly sensitive. But she has decided that she will do less work focusing on mainland China — and work on existing data sets rather than generating her own — to avoid the risk of her work being classified as subversive under the security law.
Full Article: Nature, (12-Jun)
#NationalSecurityLaw #Academic #SelfCensorship #Research
Hong Kong’s contentious national security law concerns some academics
China’s plan to introduce a new security law in Hong Kong has prompted mixed reactions from scientists there. Some fear that such a law could lead to government interference in research, restrict participation in international collaborations and increase self-censorship, whereas others are confident that research will be unaffected.
“Academics in Hong Kong are very concerned about possible changes,” says an administrator at a university in Hong Kong who requested anonymity because they think their university is under pressure to publicly support the security law. They worry that a national security law could be used to restrict the publication of sensitive research, such as studies on the new coronavirus. Scientists on the mainland need government approval to publish research relating to the origins of the pandemic.
A Hong Kong-based editorial board member for a scientific journal who also requested anonymity because they need permission to speak to the press, says they are worried that foreign research grants or international collaborations — particularly with the United States — could be defined as foreign interference and restricted under the law.
Some academics think that one of the greatest effects the new law will have on research will be an increase in self-censorship. Researchers are already wary about making comments or publishing research that could upset the central government — work that could distress financial markets, for example, such as negative results from a large vaccine trial... whether or not they’re at risk of breaking the law...
A foreign researcher who studies science and ethics at a university in Hong Kong, who requested anonymity for fear their comments could jeopardize their work visa, says they no longer feel able to criticize the science and technology practices of the central government while living in Hong Kong, and worry that the security law could bring the risk of prison sentences for such criticisms... a visiting environmental researcher at the City University of Hong Kong, says she doesn’t think her research on environment management and governance in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan is particularly sensitive. But she has decided that she will do less work focusing on mainland China — and work on existing data sets rather than generating her own — to avoid the risk of her work being classified as subversive under the security law.
Full Article: Nature, (12-Jun)
#NationalSecurityLaw #Academic #SelfCensorship #Research
Nature
China is tightening its grip on coronavirus research
Some scientists welcome government vetting because it could stop poor-quality COVID-19 papers being published – others fear it is an attempt to control information.
#Newspaper
Stanley Ng Chau-peo criticized and accused Dr. Yuen Kwok-yung after Yuen's mentioned live animal market in China again in his academic article
(15 Jun) Stanley Ng Chau-peo, the chairmen of Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions (HKFTU), criticized and accused Dr. Yuen Kwok-yung , Chair of Infectious Diseases for the microbiology department at the University of Hong Kong, to apply the science and "U.S. knowledge" to frame China. The latest scientific research paper released by Dr. Yuen continued to mention mainland Chinese habit of buying and eating wild animals. Yuen also warned the cases in Lek Yuen Estate Luk Chuen House may be the sign of super-spreader and advise Hong Kong not to let the guard down.
Yuen and Dr. To Kai Wah Kelvin, associated professor, published an article in "Hong Kong Medical Journal". Coronavirus can mutate quickly and because of the culture of consuming wild animals in southeast China, it was prepared and expected "severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) will happen again.
In the research article, it actively addressed not to be self-satisfied on the epidemic prevention in Hong Kong. During SARS in 2003, the incident of super spread in Amoy Gardens paralysis the Hong Kong medical system. Fortunately, it didn't happen in Hong Kong this time. However, cases in this month already alert the people in Hong Kong to examine the apartment building pipeline maintenance issue.
Yuen's article mentioned the situation at Luk Chuen House that patients were living in 6 different units at different floors. It may be the sign of super spreader. He didn't suggest to handle these cases as different cluster infection. In order to reduce super spreader risk, we should increase testing in Hong Kong. At least one out of 1000 people who is having syndrome respiratory infectious disease should be tested daily.
The article also mentioned that disease could continue to survive in the summer. The outbreak may happen again in winter due to low herd immunity. A safe and effective vaccine is still not available widely in the next 12 months.
Research team leading by Yuen published a report on 3 June in Lancet Microbe. The report mentioned 2.2 million people in China Hubei province had infected Covid-19 based on an exploration of 59 million population there. Stanley criticized Yuen a few days ago on Facebook that Yuen received substantial amount of foreign aid from the U.S and using his research data to frame against China. Stanley accused Yuen's for sidetracking the number of deaths in the U.S. during the pandemic.
Source: Stand News
Further reading:
How should we reflect upon the pandemic's spread?
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/21125
#YuenKwokyung #research #Censorship #CultureRevolutionHK #Coronavirus #LiveAnimalMarket #Academic
Stanley Ng Chau-peo criticized and accused Dr. Yuen Kwok-yung after Yuen's mentioned live animal market in China again in his academic article
(15 Jun) Stanley Ng Chau-peo, the chairmen of Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions (HKFTU), criticized and accused Dr. Yuen Kwok-yung , Chair of Infectious Diseases for the microbiology department at the University of Hong Kong, to apply the science and "U.S. knowledge" to frame China. The latest scientific research paper released by Dr. Yuen continued to mention mainland Chinese habit of buying and eating wild animals. Yuen also warned the cases in Lek Yuen Estate Luk Chuen House may be the sign of super-spreader and advise Hong Kong not to let the guard down.
Yuen and Dr. To Kai Wah Kelvin, associated professor, published an article in "Hong Kong Medical Journal". Coronavirus can mutate quickly and because of the culture of consuming wild animals in southeast China, it was prepared and expected "severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) will happen again.
In the research article, it actively addressed not to be self-satisfied on the epidemic prevention in Hong Kong. During SARS in 2003, the incident of super spread in Amoy Gardens paralysis the Hong Kong medical system. Fortunately, it didn't happen in Hong Kong this time. However, cases in this month already alert the people in Hong Kong to examine the apartment building pipeline maintenance issue.
Yuen's article mentioned the situation at Luk Chuen House that patients were living in 6 different units at different floors. It may be the sign of super spreader. He didn't suggest to handle these cases as different cluster infection. In order to reduce super spreader risk, we should increase testing in Hong Kong. At least one out of 1000 people who is having syndrome respiratory infectious disease should be tested daily.
The article also mentioned that disease could continue to survive in the summer. The outbreak may happen again in winter due to low herd immunity. A safe and effective vaccine is still not available widely in the next 12 months.
Research team leading by Yuen published a report on 3 June in Lancet Microbe. The report mentioned 2.2 million people in China Hubei province had infected Covid-19 based on an exploration of 59 million population there. Stanley criticized Yuen a few days ago on Facebook that Yuen received substantial amount of foreign aid from the U.S and using his research data to frame against China. Stanley accused Yuen's for sidetracking the number of deaths in the U.S. during the pandemic.
Source: Stand News
Further reading:
How should we reflect upon the pandemic's spread?
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/21125
#YuenKwokyung #research #Censorship #CultureRevolutionHK #Coronavirus #LiveAnimalMarket #Academic
China bans Australian academics from entering country
Academics Clive Hamilton, a professor of public ethics at Charles Sturt University in Canberra, and Alex Joske, an analyst with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (#ASPI) have been critical of China. They worked together on a book about China's political interference in Australia.
While both of them have no plan in visiting China nor applied any visa, China has banned their entry in an apparent tit-for-tat following Australia's decision to cancel the visas of two Chinese academics.
Chinese Government usually doesn't publicise who is on the blacklist. This explicit action aimed to cause a chilling effect on the academicians who need to travel to China for work or research.
#China #Australia #TravelBan #Academic
Source: ABC news #Sep24
https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/amp.abc.net.au/article/12698410
Academics Clive Hamilton, a professor of public ethics at Charles Sturt University in Canberra, and Alex Joske, an analyst with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (#ASPI) have been critical of China. They worked together on a book about China's political interference in Australia.
While both of them have no plan in visiting China nor applied any visa, China has banned their entry in an apparent tit-for-tat following Australia's decision to cancel the visas of two Chinese academics.
Chinese Government usually doesn't publicise who is on the blacklist. This explicit action aimed to cause a chilling effect on the academicians who need to travel to China for work or research.
#China #Australia #TravelBan #Academic
Source: ABC news #Sep24
https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/amp.abc.net.au/article/12698410
China links pose a threat to academic freedom in Britain
The writer is Conservative MP for Tonbridge and Malling and chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee
Cardiff University published a job advertisement last month with an unusual requirement: prospective applicants “must have native or near-native fluency in Mandarin”. Perhaps not so unusual in a language school, but this was for the position of lecturer in music composition.
Britain’s universities have changed. Over the past decade, our higher education system has become increasingly reliant on China for a steady stream of students, research partnerships and funding.
Source: Financial Times #Jun20
https://t.co/tCXkY7Efac
#China #Academic #Freedom #Britain
The writer is Conservative MP for Tonbridge and Malling and chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee
Cardiff University published a job advertisement last month with an unusual requirement: prospective applicants “must have native or near-native fluency in Mandarin”. Perhaps not so unusual in a language school, but this was for the position of lecturer in music composition.
Britain’s universities have changed. Over the past decade, our higher education system has become increasingly reliant on China for a steady stream of students, research partnerships and funding.
Source: Financial Times #Jun20
https://t.co/tCXkY7Efac
#China #Academic #Freedom #Britain