IT IS not surprising that students are dominant figures in the ongoing protests in Hong Kong. Often the biggest defenders of academic freedom and free speech in their campuses, joining or co-initiating pro-democracy protests in the streets and public squares merely extends these protesters commitment to the broader picture.

This, especially when pro-democracy groups insist Beijing has refused to honor the 1984 agreement between Britain and China, prior to the latters takeover.

Protesters stress that the agreement assured Hong Kong of a high degree of autonomy, except in foreign and defense affairs. Thus, it has its own legal system, and rights including freedom of assembly and free speech.

Such autonomy, protesters say, should cover peoples freedom to elect their chief executive by universal suffrage. The direct elections will be in 2017.

But in August this year, Chinas hidden agenda became visible. No, the elections will not be a free-for-all, but rather from a short list of two or three candidates selected by a nominating committee.

And in wordplay characteristic of people irritated by mortals questioning its authority, its National Peoples Congress Standing Committee stressed that Hong Kong was not promised full, but just a high degree of autonomy.

Criticizing the unofficial referendum organized by Occupy Central, one of the protest groups, the same pro-Beijing spokesperson said that openly nominating candidates would create a chaotic society. Hmm what was that again, that everything looks yellow to a jaundiced eye?

Meantime, the ongoing protests from students and professors bring to mind this years publication of Versions of Academic Freedom: From Professionalism to Revolution by Stanley Fish.

Dissecting the concept, definition and practice of academic freedom in various campuses, the book contends that while the concept is jealously guarded by both students and professors, they themselves exhibit practices that either defend the breach of, or undermine, academic freedom.

Fish states that while emphasis before was on academic, the shift is now on freedom. Defining some schools of thought, he argues against the belief that teaching is a holy calling and that among its goals is to promote world peace.

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Echaves: Academic freedom