Hong Kong’s leader Carrie Lam a no-show at eight major universities’ graduation ceremonies, as protests and unrest continue

The Chief Executive’s Office confirmed that she was ‘not planning’ to attend any graduation events this year

Student groups have planned demonstrations for the upcoming annual ceremonies, and encouraged graduates to wear masks in protest

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A student protests at a graduation ceremony in Lingnan University in Tuen Mun last year, with Carrie Lam in attendance. Photo: Handout

Published: 7:07pm, 28 Oct 2019Updated: 11:01pm, 28 Oct 2019

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor will not attend graduation ceremonies at any of the eight publicly funded universities that she is chancellor of, as violent anti-government protests continue to grip Hong Kong.

The Chief Executive’s Office confirmed to the Post on Monday that she was “not planning” to attend any graduation ceremonies this year. A government source said there were various reasons for the decision, including concerns over “the order of the ceremony”.

Sources from all eight publicly funded institutions, including official statements from Baptist University and Chinese University, also confirmed Lam would not be taking part.

The city’s publicly funded universities have typically held their annual ceremonies between late October and early December.

In recent years, they have been popular outlets for students to express political opinion and stage protests. In 2014, amid the Occupy Movement protests, graduates chanted slogans and held up banners and the symbolic umbrellas.