Hong Kong government rebuts Human Rights Watch report decrying city’s declining academic freedom
Government says report by US-based advocacy group Human Rights Watch filled with ‘malicious smears’ and disregards chaos of 2019 campus riots
A government spokesman on Wednesday also reiterated that the fundamental rights and freedoms of residents had “always been guaranteed” under the city’s Basic Law mini-constitution.
On Tuesday, US-based advocacy group Human Rights Watch published a report on what it called “the severe decline in academic freedom and the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly” at Hong Kong’s eight publicly funded universities since June 2020, when the national security law was enacted.
The report said the findings were based on interviews with 25 academics and eight students from all eight universities.
It added students, academics and administrators – especially those from Hong Kong studying contemporary sociopolitical issues – felt as if they were “living under a microscope” after the law’s enactment.
“They believe they must tread carefully, as any misstep as to what they say, research, write, teach, or publish, or with whom they partner, can potentially land them or those they associate with in serious trouble, resulting in a ripple of repercussions that could even land them in prison for years,” the report read.
