Letters | HKU council’s bullying behaviour needs to be stood up to
- Readers discuss the threat to the University of Hong Kong’s upward trajectory, Hongkongers’ right to peaceful assembly, and the kind of talent the city welcomes
I came face to face with the depraved nature of this when I was a schoolboy in Edinburgh in the 1950s. I recall vividly sitting in a classroom beside my close friend, Frank, with around 25 17-year-olds waiting for the teacher to turn up. The mood had become raucous. Suddenly, a small yet vocal mob started throwing abuse and insults at Frank, the highest academic achiever among all of us by far.
Eventually, I summoned enough courage and shouted, “Stop this infantile behaviour now!” There followed a moment of silence before a few members of the class piped up and said, “Listen to Fraser: he is right.” The unsavory incident passed. I realised that school bullies, spurred on by the tall poppy syndrome, are cowards when confronted.
I am saddened by the fact that members of the HKU council continue to behave as school bullies, aided and abetted subconsciously by a tinge of the tall poppy syndrome, in their discourteous interactions with university president Xiang Zhang. He remains cordial and dignified in the face of these bullies.
His calm demeanour and ability to keep smiling does not surprise me in the least: he is a gentleman, as well as an outstanding university administrator and a top-notch scientist/engineer with an extensive international reputation. Like my school friend Frank, Xiang should not be subjected to bullying. I say to the school bullies, “Cease your irresponsible behaviour now!”
