Junius Ho Stripped Of Honorary Law Doctorate

A British university says it has stripped controversial Hong Kong lawmaker Junius Ho of his honorary doctorate in law, saying his conduct had caused "increasing concern".

Ho was honoured by Anglia Ruskin University in 2011, for his legal work and his efforts as an ambassador for his alma mater. However, in a statement to Britain's Spectator magazine, later provided to RTHK, the university said: "ARU’s honorands must be positive role models to our students, alumni and staff, and to the communities we serve.

"Mr Ho’s conduct since he was honoured has caused increasing concern. Following an investigation, the university has withdrawn Mr Ho’s honorary degree."

The pro-Beijing lawmaker, who graduated from Anglia in 1984, when it was known as Chelmer Institute of Higher Education, has often been in the spotlight since his election to the Legislative Council in 2015.

The university did not specify what conduct it was referring to. But, last week, a member of Britain's House of Lords, David Alton, wrote to the university asking why it continued to honour Ho.

Lord Alton criticised Mr Ho's use of inflamatory language and accused him of congratulating triads involved in violence in Yuen Long on July 21. Ho has repeatedly denied that accusation.

Ho was removed from the list of honorary graduates on Anglia Ruskin's website in the early hours of Tuesday. Before its removal, a profile on the website described Ho as "a top name in law who has achieved great success in his home country of Hong Kong".

It praises his work to build ties between legal practitioners in Hong Kong and on the mainland, his presidency of the Law Society and his efforts to preserve the rights of indigenous villagers in the New Territories.

"While fighting for democratic movement, he is a staunch supporter for upholding of the rule of law," the website adds. "He stands firm against the 'Occupy Central' campaign and disavows civil disobedience by setting up the Protect Central Campaign."

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