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Nothing wrong with Hong Kong independence posters as long as no advocacy: university head

President of Lingnan University says the institution should be a place for exploring knowledge and discussion

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Posters put up at Lingnan University in Tuen Mun. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Putting up posters to discuss Hong Kong independence in universities is acceptable as long as the material does not advocate it, according to the head of a tertiary institution embroiled in the recent banner row.

Leonard Cheng Kwok-hon, president of Lingnan University, also said vice-chancellors from eight publicly funded universities in the city had discussed issuing a joint statement on the matter but no consensus had been reached.

Cheng’s comments are the latest on a brewing controversy over banners and posters that first mysteriously appeared at Chinese University last week and spread to other institutions.

Explain this: how did HK student unions come to hold such sway?

Last Friday, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor issued a statement condemning the pro-independence posters for violating the ‘one country, two systems’ principle and the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s mini-constitution.
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She added on Tuesday that the matter was not about freedom of speech.

At Lingnan University, posters were seen referring to late Communist leader Mao Zedong and his claim that Hunan, his home province in mainland China, must become an independent state.

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But there were no posters blatantly calling for Hong Kong independence.

Speaking after a celebratory event at Lingnan University, Cheng said the Basic Law stipulated that the city was an inalienable part of China.

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