HONG KONG
A Hong Kong pro-democracy academic has alleged Chinese interference in appointments at his former university, writing Tuesday that the "assaults" resembled the political persecutions of 1960s and 1970s mainland China.
"Once this permeates in the atmosphere, all other universities will face political interference in their senior appointments," Professor Johannes Chan wrote in an article in the Ming Pao newspaper.
"Facing this Cultural Revolution-style persecution, can Hong Kong still attract talent?" he added.
Chan is involved with a pro-democracy think tank, Hong Kong 2020, and Benny Tai, one of the organizers of the pro-democracy demonstrations that blocked major Hong Kong roads for 79 days last year, is a professor at Hong Kong University's law school.
Chan -- who stepped down as dean last year -- is seen by local pro-Beijing newspapers as supportive of Tai.
The South China Morning Post reported Tuesday that over the last three months, articles in Chinese-language media have smeared his and his school's record, accusing him of excessive involvement in politics and of causing the university law school's "poorer performance" and "a drop in quality."
Chan called the attacks by Ta Kung Pao and Wen Wei Po newspapers "crazy," adding that they were timed to derail his impending appointment to a senior administrative role at the university.
"The appointment of a pro-vice-chancellor is an internal affair of the university," he said.
"Using persecuting attacks to exert pressure puts the university's autonomy in serious jeopardy."
He added that academic freedom, and freedom of speech were vital to the success of the university and its academics.
