Four student unions demand dialogue with Chinese University officials in six-hour stand-off over Hong Kong independence posters
Drama plays out as city’s leader Carrie Lam warns independence advocates they have ‘overstepped the bottom line’
The row over the display on campuses of banners advocating independence for Hong Kong intensified on Friday with four student unions demanding a dialogue with Chinese University officials in a six-hour stand-off.
The drama played out as Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor warned independence advocates had “overstepped the bottom line”.
Freedom of speech was not without limits, Lam stressed, and academic freedom and autonomy were no excuses for spreading fallacies.
“Hong Kong independence runs against ‘one country, two systems’ and the Basic Law, as well as the overall and long-term interest of society,” the city’s leader said.
“I condemn the continued appearance of such remarks on university campuses, which is in violation of our country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and development interests.”
