Censorship worries undermine Chinese calls for collaboration

Hong Kong researchers wary of mainland control as Xi Jinping pushes ‘more openness’ on science

China’s president has called for more international collaboration and scholarly exchange. But his entreaty is facing skepticism, not least in a Hong Kong where academics are increasingly unable to express their opinions freely.

Amid growing rows over research links between western nations and China, and disputes over Chinese influence over key technologies such as 5G, Chinese president Xi Jinping used a speech at the annual Davos World Economic Forum conference on 25 January to push science collaboration.