The University of Hong Kong will start a referendum tomorrow to decide whether its student union should continue to be part of the Hong Kong Federation of Students.
But 10 former presidents of the union called on members to cast 'no' votes, saying a split would undermine the unity of local universities in pursuing social justice.
The referendum was initiated by a petition in September by several former and current HKU student union executive committee members critical of the federation's budget and internal disputes.
'The referendum is a good opportunity to let [our] schoolmates know this and then let them decide,' HKU student union president Lau Fong said.
Chan Kai-yip, president of the student union last year, said the referendum would be the best way to deal with the situation by giving the decision back to students.
Mr Chan came under fire in summer when he told other federation members not to tell the media about a meeting with Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen.