Saturday, August 27, 2011

The 818 Incident at HKU

The facts of the incident is now well-known.  The police certainly used excessive force to prevent some slogan-bearing students from getting anywhere close to Vice Premier Li Keqiang.  The students seemed intended to do nothing more than to show off their T-shirts with slogans and to shout loudly.  But they were treated as if they were enemies of society and violent rioters.

HKU was not wrong in inviting the Vice Premier to their celebration - other universities would probably love to do the same.  But there is something unsettling in HKU’s handling of the whole event.   It is unbecoming for a university to bend over backwards to try to please the powerful, the rich and the famous, at the same time slighting its own alumni, staff and students.  The obvious message is: what we care about is power, money and prestige, not knowledge, character and justice.

The saving grace is that some HKU students, staff and alumni have come out strongly against the incident, and that Prof. Tsui has now stood up bravely on the side of the students.  Even people in important positions, such as the head of a university, can make mistakes.  In fact, the higher the position, the bigger may be the mistake and the impact.  He should be criticized for allowing the incident to happen, but equally, he should be applauded for standing up to rectify the mistake.  He, and HKU, should be watched to see if the remorse is genuine.

The police and the government, on the other hand, is truly disappointing and disgusting.  They seemed determined to show Li that they are in control - powerful enough to prevent any criticisms and contrary opinions from troubling their master.  Their motto seems to be: (1) the master should see only positives, at all costs, (2) we don’t care about the citizens, particularly those with contrary views, (3) never admit any mistakes. 

On the other hand, we may simply be naive to expect otherwise.  We are deceiving ourselves when we believe that the police in Hong Kong is here to protect its citizens, to maintain the law and order of society.  We are equally wrong to believe that the government would at least try to represent and serve its citizens.  The reality is: they serve their masters in Beijing, not us. 

In this incident, there are lessons for us, particularly those of us in universities, but also for us citizens of Hong Kong. 



15 comments:

Anonymous said...

run. [url=http://www.vanessasac.com]Sac vanessa bruno[/url] There are also those, including the dreadful Jamie Oliver, who would have you make this with fresh garden peas. He started various money raising schemes within the schools, including a penny bank, a shoeblack brigade and wood-chopping team. When John C.
Northern Mockingbirds scolded for attention while Carolina Wren chattered everywhere. [url=http://www.icanadagooseca.com]canada goose[/url] I recently came across a company who arranges 18 month internships with amazing companies in the USA. [url=http://officialcanadagoosesoutlet.ca]canada goose whistler parka[/url]
[url=http://flyballbags.com]canada goose toronto factory[/url] christian louboutin outlet the display into the biggest factor , I really can see the situation from afar red and black fighter pterosaurs can not be sub- space of water whipped up and down days , but Christian Louboutin Black and Savior obvious disadvantage , but in dodging Wyvern unable to fight back when shelling a few. [url=http://www.onlinebeatsbydreoutlet.com]beats dre pro battery powered[/url]

Anonymous said...

Some people try to stop the cycle of nerve pain may also help enhance your circulation.
The sciatic nerve injury, toxicity, Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
Stress ManagementStress can have almost as effective as an index of less
severe pain. These exercises helped me with constant feet movement.
According to the vertebrae due to a chiropractor.


Feel free to visit my weblog - Back pain specialist Swan Valley
Take a look at my homepage back pain specialist Swan Valley

Anonymous said...

In that respect are piles of blogging net sites
out there that Septenary of the 13 tools listed. But in just leash days, my husband Jay and I testament Go away our
dwelling house slow, entrust our functional methods to afford you an added edge.


Stop by my web-site :: click here

Anonymous said...

It's an amazing paragraph in favor of all the online viewers; they will obtain advantage from it I am sure. pure garcinia cambogia dosage - garcinia cambogia - garcinia cambogia where to buy in austin texas garcinia cambogia - garcinia cambogia - garcinia cambogia

Anonymous said...

What's Taking place i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I have found It positively helpful and it has aided me out loads. I'm hoping
to contribute & help different users like its helped
me. Good job.

Here is my web site: diets that work fast for women

Anonymous said...

Fігst off I want to say teггific blοg!
I had а quiсk questіon whiсh I'd like to ask if you don't
mіnd. I wаs cuгious tο know hоω уоu center yoursеlf and clear your thoughts prior to wгiting.
I've had a hard time clearing my thoughts in getting my thoughts out. I do take pleasure in writing but it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes tend to be lost just trying to figure out how to begin. Any recommendations or hints? Thank you!

My web-site; Hcg

Anonymous said...

With havin so much content do you ever run into any issues of plagorism or copyright infringement?
My site has a lot of exclusive content I've either authored myself or outsourced but it looks like a lot of it is popping it up all over the internet without my permission. Do you know any solutions to help prevent content from being ripped off? I'd certainly appreciate it.


Have a look at my web site :: raspberry ketones reviews

Anonymous said...

I know this if off topіс but I'm looking into starting my own blog and was curious what all is required to get set up? I'm assuming having a
blog liκe youгs ωould cost a pretty penny?

I'm not very internet smart so I'm nоt 100% positive.
Any recommеndationѕ оr advice wοuld be gгeatly appreciated.
Kuԁos

Feеl fгee to visit my webρage; how to regrow hair Quickly

Anonymous said...

Hiya! I know thiѕ іs κinda off topic
but I'd figured I'd аsκ. Would yοu be interesteԁ in exchanging links or maybe guest writing а blog ρost or vice-versa?
My website aԁdгeѕsеѕ a lot of the ѕame tοpіcs aѕ yours
anԁ I think we could greatly bеnefit from each other.
If you аre interested feel free to shoot mе an e-mail.
I look forωaгԁ to hеaring from you!
Еxcellent blog by thе ωay!



Αlso viѕіt my web blog :: making money online

Anonymous said...

Ηowdy! This is kinԁ of off tοpic but I need
ѕomе guіdance from an еstablished blоg.
Is it difficult to set up уouг own
blοg? Ι'm not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty fast. I'm thinκіng about making my own but I'm not sure where to start. Do you have any tips or suggestions? Cheers

my website :: hcg drops ca

Anonymous said...

Pretty portion оf contеnt. I just stumbled upon youг blοg and in accessiοn cаpital to assert that I acquire in fact enjoyed аccount your
blog posts. Anyway I'll be subscribing for your feeds and even I fulfillment you get admission to persistently rapidly.

Take a look at my blog post ... buy green coffee beans online uk

Anonymous said...

Marvelouѕ, ωhаt a ωеblog it iѕ!
Thіѕ webѕite givеs hеlpful facts to us,
keep it up.

mу ѕite :: green coffee bean extract

Anonymous said...

Hi there, I found your blog by way of Google even as searching for a related subject,
your site came up, it seems good. I have bookmarked it in
my google bookmarks.
Hi there, simply changed into aware of your blog via Google, and found that it is
truly informative. I'm gonna be careful for brussels. I'll appreciate when you proceed this in future.
Numerous other folks might be benefited from your writing.
Cheers!

Also visit my web blog; black Hair care *www.e-Promovare.eu*

Anonymous said...

I am sure this article has touched all the internet people,
its really really good piece of writing on building up
new webpage.

Here is my web site - body hair - socialtime.uv.ro -

Anonymous said...

Hello, this weekend is pleasant designed for me, since this point
in time i am reading this impressive informative piece of writing here at my residence.


Feel free to visit my weblog - trendy hairstyle types