Hong Kong university removes part of display marking protest anniversary
- Chinese University also says it is saddened by acts of irresponsible vandalism, as ‘Hong Kong independence’ graffiti found at its Sha Tin campus
- But student union representative says the exhibition did not violate the city’s laws or tarnish the institution’s image
A Hong Kong university that was at the centre of a siege by anti-government protesters last year has removed part of a students’ exhibition marking the event’s anniversary after finding the display occupied an unapproved area.
The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) also said on Wednesday it was saddened by acts of vandalism after graffiti stating “Hong Kong independence” was found at its Sha Tin campus. It warned those who were involved might be penalised and could face legal consequences.
The week-long exhibition, titled “Siege of the CUHK” and organised by the university’s student union, opened on Wednesday morning, displaying a timeline and news photographs of the occupation of the campus, with descriptions of events.
On November 11 last year, protesters blocked traffic and threw objects from a bridge on the campus onto the highway and railway tracks beneath, beginning a five-day occupation that brought a series of violent clashes between radicals and police.
Officers fired more than a thousand rounds of tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters, who in turn hurled hundreds of petrol bombs. The force said at least 3,900 petrol bombs were found on the campus after the radicals retreated on November 15.
