Recovery in Hong Kong after protests

The prolonged protests in Hong Kong have attracted attention around the world. When the protests swelled to include millions, it appeared as if the entire city was coming apart. Media portrayed the worst and it appeared that the demonstrations impacted various sectors such as the economy and education, an impact that could linger for some time.

Gerard Postiglione indicates that higher education will bounce back. Because university students are often foster activism, one might expect that these institutions would suffer the most. Postiglione predicts that Hong Kong and its higher education institutions will recover quickly saying, "Hong Kong has always been a bounce-back city." There are three reasons why; 1) university leaders are committed to dialogue with students, 2) laws provide a base for autonomy and academic freedom, and 3) Hong Kong attracts many talented scholars from around the world. In addition to these, educators in Hong Kong have found subtle ways to criticize China that does not result in political targeting by the Communist Party and its officials. The combination of these factors and China's desire to continue to build the prestige of education will likely result in a quick return to normal operation.