8 | Tuesday, July 14, 2020 | EDITIONCHINA DAILY COMMENTHK

TO THE POINT Political advocacy STAFF WRITER has no place in ‘Primary poll’ a blatant attempt to rig September Legislative Council election

“Regret” must be the strongest favored candidates, namely the radi- ing the fairness of the election. academic freedom emotion now felt by some of the cals who have vowed to act collec- The schemers of the so-called “35- opposition politicians, who partici- tively against the Hong Kong Special plus” plan have promoted the idea pated in the camp’s so-called pri- Administrative Region government that the participants would veto the Ho Lok-sang says political propaganda is mary election over the weekend. after they get into the legislature. SAR government’s budget after they the opposite of intellectual inquiry, and it The organizers have peddled the After the weekend poll, the mas- won 35 or more seats in the legis- maneuver as “a poll” designed to terminds behind the scheme are lature — as part of their collective is right to keep out of Hong Kong schools narrow down the number of opposi- now trying to build up pressure on actions to paralyze the government. tion candidates in the September those candidates who were “not Now that they have put their plan Legislative Council election in order favored” by “voters” in the “primary into action, there is a strong case ike most academics in Hong to maximize their odds of grabbing election”, forcing them to abandon for an investigation into a possible Kong, I am all for academic more than half the seats in the legis- their plans of running in the Sep- o€ ense of subversion under Article freedom. However, academic lature — or the so-called “35-plus”. tember election — with “moral per- 22 of the new National Security Law, freedom must be understood as But those candidates from tra- suasion”. which states that “a person shall be freedom for intellectual inquiry ditional opposition parties must While it is merely distasteful for guilty of an o€ ense if a person seri- without inhibition from politi- have realized by now that they those opposition veterans who have ously interferes in, disrupts, under- cal or other interference. Politi- were cheated into playing a game been cheated into this game, the mines the performance of duties cal advocacy, on the other hand, is not intellec- Ho Lok-sang designed to screen them out to pave maneuver has enraged many fair- and functions in accordance with The author is a senior research fellow at the the law by the body of central power Ltual inquiry. It has no place in our schools. Pan Sutong Shanghai-Hong Kong Economic the way for the radicals, or “local- minded citizens because it is a bla- The starting point of all intellectual inquiry Research Institute, Lingnan University. ists”, to make it to the legislature. tant attempt to undermine the integ- of the People’s Republic of China must be humility. If one believes one is all right, The trick is rather simple: By rity of the electoral process. By forc- or the body of power of the Hong and others are all wrong, and tries to persuade Students need to respect the manipulating the “primary election”, ing some candidates out of the race, Kong Special Administrative Region others to accept one’s views, one is certainly those behind the maneuver tried the organizers are trying to infl uence by force or threat of force or other not pursuing intellectual inquiry. In fact this is lawful rights of other fellow to produce fake popularity for their the election results, thus undermin- unlawful means”. exactly the opposite of intellectual inquiry. For citizens and should never this reason, academic freedom does not include the freedom to spread political propaganda. infringe their rights in the Removing political propaganda from Hong Kong’s public libraries is consistent with aca- name of “offending the law to demic freedom. achieve justice”. National security: What Too many academics pay only lip service to academic freedom. Academic freedom, as I maintain, is predicated on humility. Based on Moreover, they will be exposed to politics out- ideological grounds, some people argue that side school campuses anyway. For this reason, I actually prefer that teachers allow them to talk goes around, comes around there is no without democracy — in particular universal su€ rage and multiparty about politics. But teachers should encourage politics. But the evidence does not support this. students to be critical thinkers and should not s those who blindly opposed try, and, for them, he was a godsend. So this is political propaganda. In many democ- take political propaganda at face value. Politi- national security legislation in In the United Kingdom, moreover, racies, the rule of law is weak, and corruption cal propaganda naturally is always dressed up Hong Kong have now found the serial fantasist, Benedict Rogers, is rampant. China is often regarded as not a with appealing praises for one ideology and out, what goes around comes who chairs Hong Kong Watch, said, democracy. But Transparency International’s horrible smears for another. They tend to stir up Aaround. After Hong Kong was unable, on May 23, that “Article 23 poses grave Corruption Perception Index 2019 released early spontaneous emotions rather than encourage for 23 years, to “enact laws on its own dangers for Hong Kong’s basic rights”, this year rated China at 80 out of 180 countries critical reasoning. For this reason, the Education to prohibit any act of treason, secession, Grenville Cross and his proxies agreed. This, of course, and regions, far better than Mexico, Brazil, and Bureau is right in not allowing political propa- sedition, subversion”, as the Basic Law The author is a senior counsel, law is the same individual who spent much the Philippines. China’s world rankings in crimi- ganda in our schools. requires (Article 23), the central authori- professor and criminal justice analyst, of the last year maligning our police nal justice and in civil justice, according to the Since it is no use suppressing views that are ties have now remedied the situation. and was previously the director of force, despite its having so courageously World Justice Project 2020, likewise, stand at critical of the special administrative region As the Sino-British Joint Declaration of public prosecutions. defended Hong Kong in its darkest days 62 and 64 out of 128. For absence of corruption, government or even China’s political system, I 1984 stipulated, China’s basic policies since World War II. Rogers it was who, World Justice Project 2020 ranked China at 51 would instead encourage students to speak up toward Hong Kong include “upholding They (China-bashers) after armed mobs smashed up the Leg- out of 128. and explain why they hold their views. Can they national unity and territorial integrity”, viewed Hong Kong as islative Council on July 1, causing dam- The Hon Ip Kin-yuen is a legislator in the present the evidence and a strong case to back and those who defi ed this have now age estimated at HK$50 million ($6.5 education functional constituency. He says up their belief that the ballot box will bring bet- reaped their reward. simply a pawn to be used million), announced that what they that the should be more ter governments to serve the people? Teachers After hostile forces, with foreign did was “unlawful but not disorderly”, open-minded and should allow students and must help their students to learn that no one backing, launched their terrorist-type in their campaign against that it was “eye-catching” to see the old teachers to express their beliefs through singing has the monopoly on truth. Since we are all campaign in Hong Kong on June 9, China, and as a useful British colonial fl ag being unfurled, such songs as and forming seekers, we need an open dialogue and examine 2019, openly trumpeting Hong Kong and that it was inspiring to see that the human chains. He says that disallowing political di€ erent discourses on what makes a better independence and deploying systematic base for trying to destabi- people who broke into the commissary groups to infi ltrate school campuses is right, but government. violence against Chinese mainland o¨ c- lize the country. “paid for the drinks” they had stolen. suppressing expressions would contravene the So instead of singing songs that praise “revo- es, people, banks and businesses, and Ever ready to accuse China of breaching Convention on the Rights of the Child, which lution of the times”, students should learn to desecrating the national fl ag, it became the Basic Law, he cynically disregarded was ratifi ed by the UN General Assembly and have an open mind and learn how politics obvious that the existing criminal laws to elect a new chairman, he used his Hong Kong’s own constitutional duty to went into force on Sept 2, 1990. works in practice in the real world, how di€ er- provided inadequate defenses. It was position instead to bring its business enact Article 23. I took a good look at the articles under the ent vested interests in ballot box democracies clear that, if “one country, two systems” to a halt, for over six months. When he With a mentality like this, it should convention, and found that although Article lobby their representatives and manipulate pub- was to survive, it would require compre- sought to justify himself, he claimed his surprise nobody that, whenever he can, 13 does protect children’s right to freedom of lic opinion, how governments in many countries hensive protection from those who were conduct was necessary in case the gov- Rogers has eagerly provided the former expression, the article also says that the exercise respond to corporate interests and not the man hell-bent on destroying it. ernment sought to “railroad” through governor, Chris Patten, with a platform. of this right may be subject to certain restric- in the street. Students need to respect the lawful The enactment of the National Secu- Article 23 national security legislation. Patten, of course, whatever his limita- tions, such as provided by law and are necessary rights of other fellow citizens and should never rity Law by the National People’s Con- Quite clearly, Kwok, and his allies, were tions, at least understands a constitu- (a) for respect of the rights or reputations of oth- infringe their rights in the name of “o€ ending gress Standing Committee would not, prepared to do anything to prevent tional imperative when he sees one, and ers; or (b) for the protection of national security the law to achieve justice”. of course, have been necessary if Hong Hong Kong from doing what it was he knows full well that Hong Kong is or of public order, or of public health or morals. Students need to learn about the real Hong Kong had discharged its constitutional constitutionally required to do, and they under a duty to the rest of China As an educator and a free thinker, I certainly Kong before the 1997 handover. Teachers have responsibilities by enacting Article 23. It thereby made Beijing’s intervention to enact Article 23. It must, therefore, will not suppress students’ questions. I would the responsibility to help students see things as could not, however, do so, because of the inevitable. have been pure mischief-making, when, allow critical views of the government or the they are, and should encourage them to contrib- sustained levels of irrational opposition Kwok, of course, has probably done on Feb 3, he told Hong Kong Watch that political system of any country. The bottom line ute what they can to build a better Hong Kong. stoked up by “pan-democratic” forces. In more than any other politician to trig- he was “saddened and surprised” that is that critics should be open-minded, listen to The new National Security Law will not disallow 2003, for example, after extensive discus- ger the National Security Law, and Article 23 was again being mooted, and and examine the argument of those who dis- reasoned criticisms on specifi c policies in Hong sions and numerous amendments, the some people have already nicknamed his remarks would have emboldened agree with them with humility, and accept the Kong or on the Chinese mainland, but we all very mild national security law which it “Kwok’s law”. Indeed, everybody who those who wished Hong Kong to breach possibility that they can be mistaken. Intellec- need to understand that the world is complicat- was then on o€ er had to be abandoned loves Hong Kong will forever recall the the Basic Law. tual inquiry does not allow arrogance. ed, and no one should impose his will on others. after a campaign of disinformation, cal- vile spectacle of him traipsing around Once it became clear, however, that I think it is unrealistic to try to take politics culated to alarm the general public. the United States last August, with his Beijing was fi nally planning to close the entirely out of our school campuses. Young The views do not necessarily refl ect those of If, thereafter, the government had party leader, Ngok-kiu, in lacuna in Hong Kong’s legal framework, minds are naturally curious about politics. China Daily. tried to enact Article 23, its opponents tow. Having traduced our police force long-standing opponents of Article 23 would, in all likelihood, have resorted in New York, and urged their audiences underwent a Damascene conversion. to violence, just as they did in 2019. to deny it crowd control equipment The very people who objected to its Fair elections urged To prevent legislators from debating and training exchanges, this despicable enactment in 2003, and have opposed the fugitive o€ ender bill, they attacked duo then openly supported the enact- it ever since, fi nally realized that they the Legislative Council on June 9, and ment of anti-Hong Kong laws by the US had lost a golden opportunity to have a then trashed in on July 1, ostentatiously Congress. For elected Hong Kong politi- home-grown national security law. The destroying the symbols of “one country, cians to fl aunt such animus toward their Civic Party’s Suk-chong, for two systems” in the process, and daub- home city in a foreign country was gross- example, on May 22, acknowledged, at ing “Hong Kong is not China” on the ly improper, and must have convinced long last, that the Article 23 national wall. To reintroduce Article 23 would, Beijing that it would have no choice but security legislation was “supposed to be therefore, have triggered similar scenes, to intervene at some point. handled by the Hong Kong legislature”, and multiple deaths could have been a China-bashers everywhere will, of although, by then, it was too late. real possibility. Although the police have course, have been delighted to have Over many years, Chan and her ilk, recently seized large quantities of arms found local patsies like Kwok so will- egged on by the likes of Patten, did every- and explosives, much will have remained ing to do their dirty work for them. thing they possibly could to prevent the undetected, and these weapons could After all, they have a vested interest in Hong Kong legislature from ever enact- have been deployed at any time, once the ensuring that Article 23 is not enacted, ing Article 23, and they must now reap order was given. as it would curtail their covert activi- what they have sown. They had their After 2003, opposition forces, in ties in Hong Kong. They were, there- chances, but they blew them. If they do complete disregard of the Basic Law, fore, happy that Hong Kong was the not like the National Security Law, they but egged on by anti-China elements only part of China, if not the world, have only themselves to blame. Years of elsewhere, did everything they possibly without any laws to protect itself from reckless obstructionism and anti-China could to stop the government from ever national security threats, and, with hysterics have led them to this point, and enacting Article 23. When, for example, Kwok’s help, they hoped to keep it they must now live with the situation Members of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, the the Civic Party legislator, that way. They viewed Hong Kong as they have themselves created. city’s largest political party, rally outside the Central Government Office on Monday. They Wing-hang, became the acting chair- simply a pawn to be used in their cam- condemned some members of the Legislative Council and District Council for advocating man of the Legislative Council’s House paign against China, and as a useful The views do not necessarily refl ect those Hong Kong independence and violence, and called for justice to be done.CHINA DAILY Committee last October, with a mandate base for trying to destabilize the coun- of China Daily.