Hong Kong university professors form vigilance team to keep eye on academic freedom
New vigilance group is tasked with keeping an eye on possible interference, as organisers plan silent march to 'demonstrate resolve of staff'
University of Hong Kong professors leading a silent march today to defend institutional autonomy plan to set up a "vigilance group" to monitor academic freedom.
The new group is part of the march organisers' follow-up actions after HKU's governing council voted last week to reject Professor Johannes Chan Man-mun's candidacy for a key managerial post amid a public outcry.
Professor Timothy O'Leary, one of the four organisers, said the rally was not just to support the liberal legal scholar but also to demonstrate staff members' resolve to protect the core value of academic freedom.
"There is now a culture of fear, especially among junior teaching and research staff," he said on the eve of the on-campus protest.
The new vigilance group would support colleagues who might come under pressure or interference over their academic work, O'Leary added.
Staff members, pan-democrats and Chan's supporters see the council's decision denying him the pro-vice-chancellorship as a political move to punish him for his pro-democracy background and close ties to an Occupy Central founder.