"The shame of Chinese University"

Let me continue my speech, former chief executive urges angry students.

Former chief executive Tung Chee-hwa yesterday appealed for protesters to give him the chance to continue his speech when scuffles interrupted a graduation ceremony at Chinese University, at which he was awarded an honorary doctorate.

About 20 students protested against the conferral. They carried red flags, shouted "the shame of Chinese University", blew whistles and repeatedly attempted to force their way onto the stage but were blocked by security guards.

Attempts to remove the students resulted in scuffles as they were forced to the ground and their flags were destroyed.

Eighty senior citizens joined the demonstration, demanding an increase in their old-age allowance.

Mr Tung gave an address in Putonghua, interrupted on several occasions by protesters accusing vice-chancellor Lawrence Lau Juen-yee of "shoe-shining".

Switching to Cantonese, Mr Tung urged the protesters to quieten down and give him the chance to continue. "Hong Kong is a very free society but can you give me the chance and freedom to complete my speech."

The protest began earlier in the morning as students and alumni marched from University MTR station with banners protesting over what they said was poor leadership under Professor Lau. They said there was a lack of transparency and consultation over the university's plans for campus expansion.

The decision to award Mr Tung an honorary law doctorate, announced in October, sparked an online petition from 400 students and alumni.

The university said Mr Tung was awarded the honorary doctorate for taking on the "historic mission of leading the administration", maintaining "the legal and judicial systems" and safeguarding the "freedom and lifestyle" of Hong Kong.

But protesters opposing the conferral cited his attempt to introduce national security legislation, and requests for the National People's Congress to reinterpret the Basic Law during his tenure.

Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, officiating in his role as university chancellor, appeared to hesitate amid the jeering before conferring the honour on Mr Tung. The protests grew louder, causing Professor Lau to call for the conferment to be made a second time.

Legislator "Long Hair" Leung Kwok-hung was dragged away by security guards after a second attempt to rush the stage.

After the ceremony, elderly protesters chanted slogans demanding an increased allowance, with one man kneeling down next to Mr Tung, who then helped him up.

Professor Lau described the ceremony as very successful despite the protests, saying he thought Mr Tung deserved the degree. "I had hoped the students would be more tolerant. Our university values freedom of expression. It is about respecting each other. One should allow even an unpopular opinion to be expressed."

Alumni representative Chu Hoi-dick said their protest targeted both Professor Lau and the conferral. "The protest against his degree is to tell the public that it's the latest ridiculous decision made by the university."

Business graduate Pun Wai-wan said: "I think the students have the right to express themselves. It reflects how tolerant our university is."