Hong Kong student activism is one thing; disrespecting others’ views is quite another

Leonard Cheng says with the privilege of higher education comes responsibility: students should practise tolerance, and remember that how we disagree is a litmus test of a civilised society

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A member of a student concern group protests on the campus of Hong Kong Baptist University’s Ho Sin Hang Campus. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 11:06am, 19 Jan 2018Updated: 7:09pm, 19 Jan 2018

Each year, in late November, a new batch of Hong Kong graduates line up to receive their diplomas and pass into society. Leaders of higher education then confront afresh a question central to their mission: what kind of graduates do universities aim to produce?

This year, Lingnan University is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its re-establishment in Hong Kong. This question therefore takes on a special meaning for the university. Universities increasingly find themselves in the news as a battleground for student protests, even though the percentage of students involved is usually minuscule. While most students remain apolitical, street protests and politics have spilled over into academia.

Lingnan University has its fair share of student activism. I have no problem with that. Universities are a place for free expression and exchange of views. As president, it is my duty to vigorously defend this intrinsic right, and I appreciate students who are socially active and have an inquisitive mind.

Some say student activism is a by-product of our vaunted academic freedom. Still, freedom of expression is never absolute. It is tempered by a respect for the rights of others with different views. This shared spirit must remain inviolate, for tolerance and mutual respect are hallmarks of the educated and are the ethos of the academic community.

It pains me when I hear coarse language, personal insults or other forms of intemperate verbal expressions hurled at people perceived to be in the other camp. We can all remember the callous remarks made anonymously a few months ago over the death of the son of a senior government official.

The Education University in Tai Po became a lightning rod for controversy in September when messages taunting an official over the death of her son were posted there. Photo: David Wong

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