THREAD: I’m belatedly weighing in on a recent @UNSW article on Hong Kong which quotes me. I am an adjunct lecturer in law @UNSW as well as the Australia Director @hrw. https://www.law.unsw.edu.au/news/china-needs-international-pressure-to-end-hong-kong-wrongs

Firstly, UNSW’s media team approached me for the story and asked for my views on the human rights impacts of Hong Kong’s national security law. I gave my views. The story was published by UNSW. I did not write it.

I understand there was a backlash from some pro-Chinese Communist Party supporters complaining about the article and asking UNSW to remove it.

A tweet from UNSW quoting me and promoting the Hong Kong story was suddenly deleted, and twice the story was removed briefly from the UNSW website, but then later reappeared.

It is back online – but it is not being promoted anymore on UNSW's main newsroom page. You can read it here: https://www.law.unsw.edu.au/news/china-needs-international-pressure-to-end-hong-kong-wrongs

China’s pro-CCP mouthpiece the Global Times also weighed in attacking the university for publishing the article: https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1196340.shtml

I am seeking clarification from UNSW on what occurred. I hope UNSW will reaffirm its protection of academic freedom and make it clear that academic freedom does not mean caving to censorship demands by some people over views they disagree with.

Safeguarding the human rights of Hong Kong people is not something that should be controversial.

@hrw has long documented concerns about Chinese government threats to academic freedom at universities around the world, including Australia. All Australian universities should be taking this seriously. https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/03/21/china-government-threats-academic-freedom-abroad