Academic Sees No Political Strings To Beijing Cash

A Vice-President of the University of Hong Kong, Andy Hor, has dismissed concerns that a new initiative to give local researchers greater access to national-level funds would undermine academic freedom.

The original announcement appeared to link the funding with the need to be patriotic. But Professor Hor said he did not think scientists would be affected by politics, as they are focused on their research.

Speaking on Commercial Radio, he said the initiative is significant as it could allow local scientists to participate in large-scale projects and turn their research into new products.

"It is very significant because it gives us not just the money, not just extra resources, but the opportunity for us to participate in big-scale projects, the opportunity for us to embark on full-value development, not just in basic research, but also in translation and eventually applications. So this is a very significant moment for the academics in Hong Kong."

Last week President Xi Jinping issued the directive ordering state agencies to support Hong Kong's development into an international innovation and technology hub - including the transfer of national-level funding for use here. However it explicitly stated people will only be invited to participate in national-level programmes if they "love the country and Hong Kong".

The directive was prompted by an appeal by a group of Hong Kong members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, who complained about their research difficulties, including barriers for them to move national research grants for use here.