Hong Kong universities are in the cross hairs
As China tries to quell the political upheaval in Hong Kong, the city’s universities — ranked among the best in Asia — have become symbols of the shrinking space for dissent or even discussion.
Politically active professors have been fired or denied contracts in what they call retribution for their criticism of the government. Students are requesting more secure platforms for submitting assignments. Scholars are reconsidering whether Hong Kong is a viable home for their careers.
Bigger picture: The scrutiny is part of a wider campaign to control education. The Education Bureau has offered to review textbooks, and last month it stripped a primary schoolteacher of his teaching credentials after he discussed Hong Kong independence. Beijing’s top official in Hong Kong has called on the government to bolster “patriotic education.”
The New York Times
