‘Democracy wall’ at Hong Kong university covered by red paper after banner put up supporting pro-independence National Party
Stand-off between PolyU management and student union drags on in wake of National Party ban and amid fears free speech is under threat on campus
Half of Polytechnic University’s “democracy wall”, where a banner backing Hong Kong independence was put up earlier this week following an unprecedented ban against a separatist party, was found to be covered by a large piece of red paper on Saturday.
On top of the red paper were several posters displaying the wall’s original rules and a special remark by PolyU’s management stipulating that the wall is managed by the university, not the student union.
The developments came as the row between the student union and PolyU management over control of the democracy wall dragged on for a fourth day. The university’s second deadline for the union to “restore” the wall to its “original” state expired at 6pm on Friday.
At a meeting with the student leaders on Friday, the dean of students, Esmond Mo Chi-ming, said the university would take back the wall if the union failed to meet the deadline. Mo added the wall should be used “more for academic discussions”, according to a union statement.
