Lam drops Cambridge college title over 'groundless' claims

Cambridge University's Wolfson College has decided not to pursue a review of the honorary fellowship of Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor after she voluntarily rescinded her honor.

In a statement, the college said its governing body raised concerns about Lam's commitment to the protection of human rights and freedom of expression in Hong Kong.

The governing body was due to consider Lam's honorary fellowship early next month, but will no longer do so after Lam returned the honor, it said.

The statement came after Lam posted on social media post on Saturday that she was cutting ties with the college after it raised concerns about developments in Hong Kong.

"I am deeply disappointed by the college smearing a person on the basis of hearsay instead of facts, therefore I can hardly convince myself to maintain any relation with Wolfson College," Lam posted.

"I voluntarily returned the honorary title after I became aware that the president of the college was under pressure from some British politicians and groups who wanted my title canceled."

Lam said she had written to Wolfson College last year and also last week to explain her administration's stance on the anti-fugitive protests, denying the government was suppressing freedoms. She added: "The president sent me another letter last week, asking for my response as they accused me of deviating from the principles of academic freedom and freedom of expression, punishing government-critical teachers and enforcing national security laws with extraterritorial effect.

"Regarding such groundless accusations, I wanted to laugh them off, but to defend the dignity of the SAR government and the chief executive, I decided to refute their claims once again, while also returning the honor."

In her reply, Lam said Hong Kong universities have academic freedom and institutional autonomy, with only students who break the law being arrested.

She added that the United Kingdom also has national security laws with extraterritorial effect.

Wolfson College had been under pressure to rescind Lam's honorary fellowship since last year.

The college released a statement on the day the national security law was implemented on July 1.

At the time, Wolfson College, said president Jane Clarke, was deeply concerned by events in Hong Kong following the enactment of the national security law and would consider Lam's position as an honorary fellow.

In November, three members of Britain's upper House of Lords called for Lam's fellowship to be revoked over her response to months of unrest.

Lam studied at Cambridge in 1982, which was funded by the SAR government while she was a civil servant. She accepted the honorary fellow from the college after she was elected chief executive in 2017.

Lam also met her future husband Lam Siu-por at Cambridge, where he was studying for a doctorate.

Both their sons, Jeremy Lam Tsit-sze and Joshua Lam Yeuk-hay, also are Cambridge alumni.

michael.shum@singtaonewscorp.com