Some local pro-Beijing newspapers have portrayed the campaign against the Chinese University's conferment of an honorary doctorate degree on Lee Kuan Yew, as being orchestrated by the local Democratic Party, with the sole intention of viciously attacking the Hong Kong SAR Government and, in particular, the Chief Executive. As one of the initiators of this campaign, I would like to respond to such a baseless accusation. The Chinese University is an academic institution funded by public money. It is supposed to be accountable to the public. It should offer its visions for the future of Hong Kong and the world community, based on an unswerving commitment to humanistic and intellectual values. Any member of the public is entitled to speak out against any of the university's decisions which are deemed to diverge from these basic values. The conferment of an honorary degree on an authoritarian ruler such as Lee Kuan Yew, under whose rule human rights and democracy were compromised, is definitely not what the public should tolerate. Mr Lee's rule has been marked by the trashing of freedom of the press, assembly and association and bending of the rule of law enabling Mr Lee to harass his political opponents. People have been detained without trial, the longest serving prisoner of conscience being Chia Thye Poh, who was kept for 23 years without trial. Mr Lee's party employed 'campaign strategies' which put a constituency with strong opposition leaders standing for election under the threat of losing an early opportunity for urban renewal and even its MTR station. In spite of all this pressure, a few brave Singaporeans fought and are still fighting for their freedom and dignity. Those of us who protest against an 'honorary' degree being conferred on such a person as Mr Lee are, in fact, not only concerned about an academic institution endorsing our government's conscious attempt to become a copycat of the Singaporean polity. It is also a show of solidarity with Mr Lee's courageous opponents - those in Singapore and those now in exile. We are proud to be part of the legacy of Asian values which tie in perfectly with integrity, human compassion and human dignity. MAN SI-WAI Central I am irritated by those individuals who have protested against the Chinese University's decision to recognise the achievements of Lee Kuan Yew. Under Mr Lee's stewardship, Singapore has became a well-organised, green and corruption-free city state. People there are disciplined and the crime rates are low. The Government of Singapore has been criticised because it plays a larger role than most administrations when it comes to decision making. Those who are opposed to the honorary degree seem to think that the US system and similar kinds of government are the best kinds of government and anything else is unacceptable. However, different approaches suit different people. Some people like the way things work in Singapore where everything is in order. Those who are protesting take the narrow-minded approach which can be summed up as, 'Everything we think is right.' SARAH YUEN Fanling
