University of Hong Kong will not pursue students who hung up pro-independence banners on China National Day, president says

The University of Hong Kong will not pursue the students who hung pro-independence banners around campus without permission on National Day, president and vice-chancellor Peter Mathieson said.
The professor explained the conciliatory approach by saying he and the institution believed in freedom of speech, but at the same time issued a warning to students to respect the rules and regulations of the 105-year-old university.

The head of the city’s most prestigious place of learning made the remarks after banners saying “Hong Kong Independence” sprung up at eight universities, including HKU and Chinese University, across the city during National Day on Saturday.

The Hong Kong National Party, a pro-independence group led by young people, admitted it had provided the banners, but insisted students had taken the initiative to pin them up.

“The university has made its position clear on the issue of Hong Kong independence. We believe in freedom of speech and we also believe in respect for rules and regulations,” Mathieson said on Monday after attending an event promoting healthy lifestyles.

“Regarding banners, we have a process at the university where students can get permission to hang them,” he said. “I think these particular banners hadn’t been through that process and so they were taken down at HKU, as I think they were at all the universities.”