Banners saying “Hong Kong Independence” sprung up at eight universities across the city on China’s National Day. The banners were found hanging on the walls of buildings in most universities on Saturday, including the University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University, Hong Kong Polytechnic University and theUniversity of Science and Technology. Similar banners – denoting defiance of mainland sovereignty over the former British colony – were also found at Baptist University, City University, Lingnan University and the Education University of Hong Kong. Wet weather marks flag-raising ceremony for 67th National Day, with small protest group unable to reach event Some of the schools reportedly removed the political exhibits. The Hong Kong National Party, a pro-independence group led by youngsters, admitted it provided the banners to students, but insisted the action was taken on the students’ own initiative. Opposition lawmakers gatecrash Hong Kong chief executive’s National Day speech In a Facebook message posted a few days ago, the party asked students not to celebrate National Day and called China a “colonial master” of Hong Kong.