Macau scholar’s sacking raises freedom concerns

An associate professor of political science at the University of Macau, Bill Chou Kwok-ping, believes that his contract was not renewed because of his political activism, raising concerns about academic freedom in the Chinese territory, writes Austin Ramzy for The New York Times.

Scholars have long warned of the dangers of government influence over higher education in Macau, both before and after the territory of about 600,000 returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1999. As in Hong Kong, which is a short ferry ride to the east, many residents of Macau have been increasingly vocal about their desire to have more say in choosing their political leadership.

Another professor in Macau, Eric Sautedé of the University of St Joseph, a private Catholic institution, was dismissed from his position in June because of his commentary on local politics, according to local news media. “There has been an organised persecution of scholars,” said Jason Chao, a pro-democracy activist in Macau.
Full report on The New York Times site