HKU's legal scholar was sacked last month over his conviction related to the Occupy movement in 2014. More than 500 local and overseas academics have slammed universities’ decision to sack legal scholar Benny Tai Yiu-ting and lawmaker Shiu Ka-chun from their teaching jobs. In a joint statement by four teaching professionals groups, the scholars said the terminations delivered a severe blow to academic freedom in Hong Kong, and the decisions violated procedural justice. The president of the Professional Teachers' Union, Fung Wai-wah, said the enactment of the national security, coupled with growing concerns over the SAR’s dwindling academic freedom, have forced many scholars to consider moving overseas. Some of them are now considering finding some jobs in other countries where there is higher academic freedom”, he said.

Source: The Standard August 15, 2020 08:37 UTC