Hong Kong university leaders ‘replaced with Beijing supporters’

Pro-democracy academics in leadership positions at Hong Kong’s universities are slowly being replaced by those who “share Beijing’s views”, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW). 

In a report, the advocacy organisation said there had been a “severe decline” in academic freedom at the city’s universities since the National Security Law came into force in 2020.

In particular, universities have restricted freedom of expression and the right to assemble on campuses and removed student unions, while students and academics report increased censorship.

Authorities in Hong Kong “strongly condemned” the report, describing the contents as “smears and sweeping remarks”. 

Human Rights Watch analysed changes in leadership positions at the city’s universities and “broadly” found that “those who have disagreed with Beijing have lost their positions of authority, while those who support Beijing’s line have been rewarded”.

The report references the appointment of Zhang Xiang in 2017 to replace Sir Peter Mathieson, who left before his contract finished. Professor Zhang has recently been the subject of a high-profile misconduct investigation, in which he was cleared, and involved in a public spat with the university’s governing council.

Researchers also reported that Hong Kong’s chief executives had increasingly appointed pro-Beijing individuals to key positions in university governing councils, “which then block academics perceived to be pro-democracy from taking up university leadership and faculty posts”. 

Changes were made at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) in 2023, perceived to be a result of the administration’s lenient response to student protests in 2019. A newly structured council removed vice-president Eric Ng, who had opposed modifications to the university’s governing body. Vice-chancellor Rocky Tuan also announced his resignation before the end of his term. CUHK this month announced Professor Tuan’s successor as molecular scientist Dennis Lo. 

In mostly anonymous interviews with 25 academics and eight students from Hong Kong’s publicly funded universities, researchers found that students, academics, and administrators “feel as if they are living under a microscope”, especially those studying “contemporary socio-political issues”. 

“They believe they must tread carefully, as any misstep as to what they say, research, write, teach, or publish, or with whom they partner, can potentially land them or those they associate with in serious trouble, resulting in a ripple of repercussions that could even land them in prison for years,” authors of the report write. 

Some academics reported direct incidents of censorship, including facing pressure to withdraw articles on “sensitive” topics, but self-censorship was more common, with some faculty deciding to stop teaching certain courses and others leaving Hong Kong altogether.

“The decline in academic freedom in Hong Kong has global implications as Hong Kong universities have long been an essential window to the world about China, and vice versa,” said Anna Kwok, executive director at the Hong Kong Democracy Council. 

“Foreign governments and universities with joint programmes with Hong Kong universities should evaluate these programmes, to make sure their academic work is not being manipulated and controlled by the Chinese government’s assault on academic freedom.”

A spokesperson for the Hong Kong government said the “fundamental rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents have all along been guaranteed at the constitutional level”, with stipulations in the National Security Law “that human rights shall be respected and protected”.

“Academic freedom is an important social value treasured in Hong Kong and the cornerstone of Hong Kong’s higher education sector,” they said.

helen.packer@timeshighereducation.com