A group should be set up to protect academic freedom and guard against political interference, a law professor says.
Raymond Wacks, professor of law and legal theory at the University of Hong Kong, said he was concerned the principle of academic freedom, already under pressure, would face greater danger after the handover.
He proposes setting up a group of academics from a cross-section of institutions who would monitor issues like staff appointments and dismissals, student curricula, access to international conferences and student demonstrations.
Although many individuals supported the principles of free speech, the territory lacked an organised group to safeguard principles of academic freedom and university autonomy, he said.
'Academic freedom is essentially a means to protect what is taught and how it is taught and gives academics a privilege which goes beyond freedom of speech,' he said.
'It protects the integrity and the openness of a university, which is fundamental to that institution.