University of Hong Kong vice-chancellor condemns ‘mob rule’ by students, threatens to hand videos to police

Police are investigating the siege of a University of Hong Kong governing council meeting on Tuesday night after the university’s vice-chancellor offered of Wednesday to hand over videos of those involved to police.

Professor Peter Mathieson condemned as “mob rule” the siege of the meeting, but students defended their actions as having been “forced” by council chairman Arthur Li Kwok-cheung’s unwillingness to have a face-to-face conversation with them on their demands that the council review its structure, which they fear is susceptible to political interference.

A police spokesman confirmed on Wednesday that the case was under investigation as possible criminal damage, saying three women needed to be taken away by ambulance during the chaos.

He said officers had come prepared with batons and pepper spray, and that a glass door, a fire door, a security guard station and four street lamps were damaged.

In an email to staff members, students and alumni, Mathieson said those involved in Tuesday’s scenes were not deserving of any credit and that HKU students “should be capable of better”.

“I condemn the behaviour last night of HKU students, who put the safety of council members, including me, and university and security staff at serious risk,” said Mathieson in the email, on behalf of the senior management team. “This is not the way to achieve progress. We will always be willing to engage in rational discussion and debate with students but we cannot condone mob rule.”

He said videos recorded would be “made available to the police”.