Firing Benny Tai fair, reasonable, say educators and alumni

HONG KONG - The University of Hong Kong's decision to dismiss Benny Tai Yiu-ting is a wise move, considering the profound adverse impact he has had on the city's young generation, according to education representatives and HKU alumni.

Tai, a former associate law professor from the university, was fired after the university's governing body's approval of the decision on an 18:2 vote Tuesday.

Mervyn Cheung Man-ping, chairman of the Hong Kong Education Policy Concern Organization, believes the HKU decision was based on Tai's involvement in court case, and such consideration is "objective and fair".

An initiator of the illegal "Occupy Central" movement in 2014, Tai was sentenced to 16 months in jail last year for his role in the campaign and was later released on bail.

The case has nothing to do with academic freedom, Cheung said, adding that no public organization accepts employees with criminal records.

Wong Kam-leung, chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers, also termed the HKU decision reasonable.

Tai's political advocacy, such as "achieving justice by violating the law", has greatly influenced students and educators. Such notion also indirectly gave rise to the advocacy of Hong Kong independence, he said.

He is hopeful that the firing of Tai could help the public realize the falsehood of his political advocacy.

Lawrence Pang Wang-kee, an HKU alumni and former member of Central Policy Unit, an advisory body of Hong Kong government, said there are sufficient justifications in terms of moral, university management or legal aspects to dismiss Tai.

Another university alumni, Choy So-yuk, a former lawmaker from the city, said Tai had been unqualified for the post by advocating breach of law, and, hence, the HKU, a prestigious university in the city, should not continue to tolerate this.

In a statement, the Hong Kong Higher Education Convergence said Wednesday that the dismissal of Tai is in line with public interests and could help the HKU restore its reputation.

It will also help universities in the city refocus on academic research and avoid being politicalized, according to the statement.