Students need to be taught how to respect the law

Victor Fung Keung says HKU chief should not have apologised for event’s security  (SCMP Aug 30, 2011)

Professor Tsui Lap-chee, vicechancellor

of the University of

Hong Kong, has apologised to

HKU students for the security

arrangements during Vice-Premier

Li Keqiang’s recent visit to

the university. But this sends a

wrong message to the tens of

thousands of primary, secondary

and university students in this city.

By apologising and saying he was

proud of the “noisy bunch”, he has

destroyed the sacrosanct principle

of education. That is, one must be

taught about the importance of

moral values, a respect of the rule of

law and discipline, the qualities

future leaders of Hong Kong must

possess. What would parents think if

their primary school children came

home and told them it’s OK to be

disruptive in the classroom?

Tsui should have stood firm and

told students the police were doing

the right thing in providing

protection for Li.

I am not saying students

shouldn’t be encouraged to speak

out. They should, if there are

grounds to make “noises”. It is

common sense that in whatever

country, visiting national leaders are

well guarded by the local police. It

would shame Hong Kong people if

some foreign dignitaries were

harmed during their visits here.

Respecting the rule of law is why

Hong Kong ticks. If Hong Kong

wants to survive in light of fierce

competition from places such as

Singapore and Shanghai, students

must be taught when and where to

speak out. Demonstrating for

publicity’s sake shouldn’t be

condoned. The importance of

imparting discipline and students

knowing what’s right or wrong

cannot be overemphasised.

University graduates with low moral

standards and a lack of selfdiscipline

in this city will become

irresponsible hooligans in the

future. Respecting the law has

nothing to do with trampling on

human rights or freedom of speech.

Don’t let the lawyers fool you.

In recent years, thousands of

students have failed to repay loans.

Many simply don’t care, and some

have resorted to declaring

bankruptcy and getting away with it.

Such irresponsible behaviour

should be condemned.

Many university administrators

and educators are scared of

confronting students, arguing that

they are adults and know what they

are doing. They contend that moral

education and an emphasis on

discipline aren’t necessary. They are

wrong. We not only need to

strengthen discipline and moral

education in primary and secondary

schools, but also remind college

students of the importance of

abiding by the law.

Teaching and administrative

effectiveness is based mostly on how

students evaluate teachers after the

school year ends. In order to please

students, many administrators and

professors treat them as valued

customers. When students arrive

late to class, talk, eat or sleep in class,

professors look the other way. It isn’t

hard to see what kind of students we

are producing under such a system.

Not only in class do students show

no respect and discipline, they

exhibit the same undesirable

behaviour even in public places.

It is understandable why

university leaders didn’t take action

against these disruptive students.

Confronting students can lead to

ceaseless demonstrations

demanding their resignation. Thus,

students’ impolite behaviour is

tolerated. But, in this case, freedom

of speech has nothing to do with

student discipline.

The students should be taught

how to respect the law and others’

rights; and their misbehaviour

should not be tolerated. That’s what

educators like Tsui should have

done. Many Hong Kong citizens,

myself included, would be ashamed

if Vice-Premier Li were injured in

Hong Kong.

It is sad to read that attacks on

police officers are on the rise. We

must respect the law and lawenforcement

authorities. We don’t

want to see anarchy developing in

this city. Such a worrying trend calls

for Chief Executive Donald Tsang

Yam-kuen to take action. He should

leave a legacy, insisting that Hong

Kong people must respect authority

and the rule of law.


Victor Fung Keung, based in

Hong Kong, is a commentator

on education and political issues