Monday.COME "Scholars or Academic Hegemons? Who Defines Academic Freedom?" 02/2012

In recent months, local left-wing media has waged severe criticism on Shing Ming (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology), Chung Ting-Yiu (University of Hong Kong), and Choy Chi-Keung (Chinese University of Hong Kong), for making comments beyond their capacities as scholars. At the same time, Minister Hao Tie-chuan of the Liaison Office of the PRC Government in Hong Kong wrote in the press that scholars would become public figures when they spoke on social issues. Criticisms on them should therefore not be regarded as infringement of academic freedom. Scholars who think otherwise are just academic dictators. What is the content and boundary of academic freedom? What are the relations and differences between scholars and public intellectuals? In what capacity do scholars have when they address public or even political issues? Are there norms for governing such public discourse? These are pressing issues facing this academic community and Hong Kong. 

Date:　20 February 2012 (Monday) 
Time:　12:30 pm - 2 pm
Venue:　NAH 208
Speakers: Choi Po-king (University Education Concerned Group; Chinese University of Hong Kong), Chung Ting-Yiu (University of Hong Kong), Choy Chi-Keung (Chinese University of Hong Kong)
Host: Prof. MA Shu Yun (Professor, Department of Government and Public Administration)
Language:　Presentations in Cantonese, discussion can be in Mandarin and English too (interpreters available upon pre-meeting request)