On Tuesday, The University of Hong Kong (HKU) fired an associate professor of law, Benny Tai, because of a criminal conviction over his role as a founder of the 2014 pro-democracy “umbrella protests” in Hong Kong.
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Tai called the ruling by HKU as “the end of academic freedom” in Hong Kong and accused the university of kneeling down to pressure from China.
In 2019, Tai was sentenced to 16 months in prison for two public nuisance offenses, including his role in the 2014 protests. He was then granted bail pending an appeal in August 2019, which is what prompted the university to review his position this week.
18 members of the university’s governing council committee voted in favor of his sacking, while two voted against, according to local Hong Kong media.
The HKU governing council’s Tuesday ruling to remove Tai is contradictory to a previous decision by the university’s senate, which stated that while Tai had committed misconduct, there were not enough facts to back his sacking.
In a Facebook post, Tai commented on the situation saying: “Academic staff in educational institutions in Hong Kong are no longer free to make controversial statements to the general public about politically or socially controversial matters.”
Tai said HKU’s ruling to remove him was “made not by the University of Hong Kong but by an authority beyond the University through its agents.”
“I am heartbroken to witness the demise of my beloved university,” Tai added.
Welcoming Tai’s removal, Hong Kong-Beijing Liaison Office, stated: “The University of Hong Kong’s decision to fire Benny Tai is a move that punishes evil and praises the virtuous.”
This month, Tai was also called out by Chinese officials for his participation in organizing an unofficial primary vote, that allows the selection of candidates for elections to the city legislature from the opposition pro-democracy group.
Chinese state media has referred to Tai as a “hardcore troublemaker” and alleged him of collusion with foreign and external forces.
Hong Kong’s 2014 Umbrella protests lasted for nearly 79 days as protestors took over the streets to demand greater democracy.