Hong Kong’s national security police gather evidence at university campus after student protesters chanted independence slogans
- A dozen officers examine security camera footage and take photos around campus following Thursday’s demonstration
- Beijing’s liaison office warns the rally might have breached national security law
About a dozen officers from the police national security unit spent three hours gathering evidence at the Chinese University of Hong Kong on Friday as part of an investigation into a student protest on campus that featured separatist slogans and banners.
The plain-clothes officers entered the Sha Tin campus with the consent of the university, a police insider said.
“Officers viewed camera footage at the university’s security office and also took pictures at the campus to gather evidence,” he said, adding no arrests had been made.
They also visited open areas outside United College and New Asia College.
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During the 30-minute protest, demonstrators were heard calling for the liberation of Hong Kong and its independence, chanting and displaying banners with the slogan “Liberate Hong Kong; revolution of our times”.
About two hours earlier the university’s security personnel had alerted police to graffiti that appeared on campus stating separatist slogans, including the “liberate” line and “Hong Kong independence, the only way out”.
The police source clarified the university did not ask the officers to enter the campus to investigate the graffiti.
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The Education Bureau said on Thursday that writing such separatist messages might constitute an illegal act. A spokesman condemned the rally and expressed support for the university’s response.
“They blatantly promoted separatism and Hong Kong independence,” it said. “They are suspected of violating the Hong Kong national security law. We strongly condemn this.”
The office also said it resolutely supported the national security unit to take decisive action to promptly investigate the case and deal with the matter in accordance with the law.
The university’s Hong Kong Employees General Union and the Confederation of Tertiary Institutes Staff Unions have organised a signature campaign condemning the decision to involve police.
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“The university is an important place for the promotion of academic freedom and independent thinking; it bears the role of defender of freedom of thought and speech,” read the petition, which has attracted at least 800 signatures.
“However, the university did not protect the students and instead called police, an act that went against the mission of education,” it read. “We regret and strongly condemn the university authorities’ action.
