【中大言論自由關注組 成立宣言│
"CUHK Freedom of Expression Concern Group" Launching Manifesto】
(Please Scroll Down for English Version.)
中大校園內的言論及表達自由連日來受到重大挑戰，先有校方試圖強行拆去文化廣場上具有港獨政治主張的橫額及標語，再有沈祖堯校長向學生會施壓，要求學生會拆除有關標語，否則校方會主動拆除。這些舉動無疑是要管制同學及老師在校園內討論各項政治主張的權利。然而，大學校董會及校長卻試圖以「港獨違反基本法」之名，掩蓋限制言論及表達自由之實，剝奪我們與生俱來的權利。
大學作為知識生產及傳播的基地，言論及表達自由是必不可缺。只有在無須畏懼被以言入罪的環境下，我們才有條件就社會上不同思想作出思考及辯論，探求及發掘新的思想。
因此，我們一群不甘受打壓的中大同學，自發成立了中大言論自由關注組，希望令更多同學關心事件，一同守護校園內的言論及表達自由。
中大言論自由關注組
二零一七年九月十九日
【"CUHK Freedom of Expression Concern Group" Launching Manifesto 】
Recently, it has come to our attention that freedom of speech and expression within our campus are being undermined. Univerisity Officers have relentlessly attempted to remove banners and slogans advocating "Hong Kong independence" in the Cultural Square. Shortly after, Vice-Chancellor Joseph Sung demanded that CUSU remove aforementioned slogans, or else university officials would do so themselves. Such actions undoubtedly violate the right of students and teachers to freely discuss politics inside campus. And yet, the Council and Mr. Sung attempted to legitimize such oppression with the claim that "Hong Kong independence violates the Basic Law" to conceal the deprived right to freedom of speech and expression.
As a place to produce and advocate knowledge, freedom of speech and expression within the university is indispensable. It is only in an environment where we could be free from the fear to be criminalized by speech, where we could think and debate on various schools of thought in different fields within the society and to search and discover new ideas.
Hence, CUHK Freedom of Expression Concern Group is established by a group of CUHK students who are unwilling to surrender in the face of suppression. We hope that more of our fellow schoolmates can be concerned about the issue and defend the freedom of speech and expression within our campus.
CUHK Freedom of Expression Concern Group
19th September 2017