Hong Kong’s Polytechnic University tightens campus security ahead of protest anniversary
- Turnstiles have been installed at all entrances, while visitors will require special approval from department heads to enter the campus
- Separately, lawmakers question Hong Kong university chiefs over campus security during panel meeting on HK$2.5 billion expansion plans
A Hong Kong university has tightened campus security by refusing entry to most visitors, ahead of the anniversary of a 13-day siege last year which turned its premises into a battleground between radical anti-government protesters and police.
The ramped up measures on Friday by Polytechnic University were on top of efforts already in place to limit access, such as turnstiles at all entrances and requiring visitors to register before arriving.
On November 17 last year, radical protesters on the campus engaged in violent confrontation with police, hurling petrol bombs at officers, who fired tear gas in return. The force later declared the unrest a riot and surrounded the campus for a fortnight.
The PolyU chaos last year marked one of the most violent moments of the city’s months-long social unrest.
03:10
Night clashes around Hong Kong Polytechnic University
The varsity in Hung Hom and Chinese University (CUHK) in Sha Tin suffered the most damage as protesters occupied several campuses across the city.