Social problems at root of Mong Kok riot but violence is not the answer, say Hong Kong university presidents
Academics acknowledge mutual distrust in city but urge people to respect rule of law
Two university presidents acknowledged on Thursday that social problems and mutual distrust between Hongkongers and the government were behind the Mong Kok riot last week but said violence would not solve problems.
Speaking at separate events, Professor Leonard Cheng Kwok-hon of Lingnan University and Open University’s Professor Wong Yuk-shan both said the riot – in which about 130 people were injured, including 90 police officers, and 69 arrested – showed there were social problems that needed to be addressed.
Cheng said he hoped the government could listen to people’s opinions more and introduce policies that were widely supported.
“Distrust is indeed a big problem. In fact, both [the government and the people] distrust each other.”
But Cheng said nothing could justify the violence.
“You can’t use violence to solve problems. We should return to reason and respect the rule of law.”
Wong said the government should review how it communicated with young people and its policies on youth. He also condemned the violence.
READ MORE: Hong Kong tertiary institution staff to vote in ‘referendum’ on contentious governance issues
Regarding a referendum on reform of the governance system next month for staff at the city’s eight publicly-funded tertiary institutions, Cheng said that while he would not vote he respected staff’s choices on voting.
He said the university’s governing council had decided that governance reform should not be the university’s priority and that even if many teachers and students demanded reform, the university alone could not change the governance structure as this was a matter for legislation.
Staff will vote on whether the chief executive should have the power to appoint governing council members, and whether more members should be elected from inside universities than from outside.
READ MORE: After the riots in Mong Kok, Hong Kong must come together and say ‘no’ to violence
Many university students, staff and alumni have been demanding reform, saying the existing governance structure makes political interference easier, which could undermine academic freedom. Critics of the system point to the University of Hong Kong council’s rejection of the promotion of pro-democratic law professor Johannes Chan Man-mun.
Wong said the governance system had proved effective for decades and he did not feel reform was necessary.
“No matter under what system, [political interference] can always happen,” said Wong.
