British university strips pro-Beijing lawmaker Junius Ho of honorary degree over remarks during Hong Kong protests

Member of the British parliament urged Anglia Ruskin University to withdraw the honorary doctorate because Ho shook hands with individuals allegedly linked to an attack on train passengers at Yuen Long in July

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Pro-establishment lawmaker Junius Ho Kwan-yiu (front centre) walks away from the group of pan-democracy lawmakers rallying against him. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 12:58pm, 29 Oct 2019Updated: 11:11pm, 29 Oct 2019

Pro-Beijing lawmaker Junius Ho Kwan-yiu has been stripped of an honorary law degree by his alma mater in Britain, which voiced concerns about his controversial conduct during Hong Kong’s anti-government protests.

Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge awarded the former Law Society president the honour in 2011, praising Ho as “a top name in law” in the city, but on Tuesday announced it had decided to withdraw it after complaints by local pro-democracy supporters and a member of British parliament.

The institute said all honorands had to be positive role models to students, alumni and community.

“Mr Ho’s conduct since he was honoured has caused increasing concern,” the university said. “Following an investigation, the university has withdrawn Mr Ho’s honorary degree.”

Pro-establishment lawmaker Junius Ho Kwan-yiu was awarded an honorary doctorate by British university Anglia Ruskin. Photo: Nora Tam

The university did not specify the exact incidents or complaints that triggered the withdrawal. It did however, also remove Ho’s name and biography from its list of honorary award holders.

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