Student activistsSome feel need to protest
against 'unfair' practices
By Doris Cheung
Personal missions may be the driving force behind student activists on Hong Kong's campuses. "I feel I have the responsibility to be so," said Mr. Chester Tsang, a provisional administrative committee member of the Student Union of The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
The latest controversy stemmed from student dissatisfaction with the appointment process of the new vice-chancellor of The Chinese University, Prof. Arthur K. C. Li. Students launched a boisterous protest at his installation ceremony on 7 November, claiming that the process was not "transparent".
The protest disrupted the ceremony, which was attended by the governor of Hong Kong and many other dignitaries.
Mr. Tsang believes that one should react to unfair things. This is the reason he went out on protest against the appointment process.
Mr. Sung Chee Tak is a former deputy chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of Students. He joined the Association Concerning China during the June Fourth Movement.
He joined the Student Union after having been admitted to Baptist University. "I took part in the sub-committee work like the student publication and social affairs committee. During the academic year of 1995-96, I was elected the president of the Student Union of Baptist University," he said.
Mr. Ho Man Kit, president of the Student Union of New Asia College at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, said that protest actions against the government's proposals on grant and loan policies in May 1995 was his most memorable .
"We heard about the new policy in the evening," said he. "We held an emergency meeting throughout the night."
They launched a demonstration directed at the Legislative Council and made a petition to the governor.
"Since it was during the final examination period, only 10 to 20 students were involved," he said. "The number of journalists reporting the event was even more than us."
It was his first time to be the focus of media attention.
Mr. Sung was once criticized by the Hong Kong Commercial Daily as "tricking for the invitation ticket in the name of Hong Kong Federation of Students" after the announcement of their opposing views towards the provisional legislature at the Preparatory Committee consultations day on 14 April.
However, Mr. Sung believes that no explanation is needed. "The Chinese officials later admitted that the seats were offered by New China News Agency," he said. and was widely reported.
Some criticized the students' action as irrational and emotional. The official statement from Chinese University also regarded the students' action as "disrupted the order of the ceremony", "infringed on other people's freedom" and "tarnished the reputation on the university".
Mr. Chester Tsang was the leader of the protest. He began to think about demonstration after listening the talk of Professor Li, the only candidate of vice-chancellor then. "I was dissatisfied about his sayings of "knowing nothing" and "forgetting everything", I think it is unfair," said he.
"I contacted about 15 students in Chinese University and several students from other tertiary institutions to protest against the undemocratic appointment and asked heads of the other institutions for explanation about the selection process at the installation ceremony.
He denied the intention as disrupting the order of the ceremony.
"Since the students inside the hall didn't know the governor had arrived, and some of them believed that the ceremony should be open to all. Students were not willing to leave the hall when the security staff for- ced them to do so without explan- ation. So the students and the security staff cru- shed and blocked the entrance.
If we intended to disrupt the order of the ceremony, we would also block the rear door where the governor and the guest entered the hall," he said.
Said Mr. Tsang, expressing his view on press' reporting on: "Most of the reporting are quite fair, while criticisms came mainly from the editorials and analysis sections in newspapers.
"It is probably because the reporters witness the event, and editors don't," he said.Mr. Tsang said that a forum and seminar will be held later to explain their action. "We are concerned mostly of opinion from students," said he.
Mr. Sung of the Hong Kong Federation of Students also values criticism as an indispen- sable thing. "It mirrors our mistakes," he said.
Mr. Sung is not optimistic about the future of Hong Kong and student campaigns.
"I believe press freedom and freedom of speech will be limited after the handover of sovereignty," said he, "but what I worry most is the self-censorship of mass media."
However, Mr. Ho expressed the future of communists rule in mainland China is not necessary a pessimistic one. "Followed with economic development and the influence of Hong Kong, democracy in China is just a matter of time," he said.
In China, studentdem- onstrations are suppressed by the govern- ment. These student activists have the con- cern too.
"I am afraid of prosecution and I will avoid dealing with political affairs, but pay attent- ion to what happens on campus," said Mr. Tsang.
Mr. Ho also shares similar view with Mr. Ho. "I'll continue to do what I believe is right," he said, "but I think it is safer to do it in a milder way and on a lawful basis."
However, Mr. Sung thinks differently. "Surely, I don't want to be suppressed or prosecuted, but I do have that preparation in mind," he said. "I'm glad that any political actions against me will not affect my family as they are in Indonesia."
In the future, Mr. Sung hopes to take part in the organization for grass-root, such as labour union.
They generally think that students are not enthusiastic in student movement nowadays.
"The climax was at the 60s and 70s," said Mr. Ho. "It was due to the background of society and also the high self-motivation of students."
"Today, tertiary education is more accessible and the proportion of 'active students' on campus decreases," he said.
Mr. Sung explains the reason of student lukewarm response in another angle. "The popularity of associations such as political parties and pressure groups has replaced partly the role of intellectuals in expressing public views."
Pressure exists when the things one do are not supported by his family and friends. Mr. Ho said, "The amount of time I spend with my family and friends inevitably decreases and they do complain about this."
"I think the only way to gain their support is to let them know what I believe is correct," he said.
Nevertheless, Mr. Sung does not think what they give and gain are imbalanced.
"I would be satisfied if my voice could make someone alarm on some issues," he said.
January 1997
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