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https://scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3032623/open-university-pushes-back-hong-kong-police-after Education
Open University pushes back on Hong Kong police after officers allegedly arrive unannounced on campus to body search student
- By student union’s account, officers responding to insults chased a student into the Ho Man Tin campus and conducted a body search
- President Wong Yuk-shan tells students he ‘would never want any law enforcement officers to enter the campus under normal circumstances’
Dorinda Chan (left), the director of student affairs at the Open University, and Professor Tong Chong-sze, the vice president of administration and development, speak to student protesters on Friday. Photo: Jonathan Wong
The president of the Open University on Friday said the school had complained to the police about officers arriving unannounced on campus last week to body search a student.
Wong Yuk-shan revealed the complaint in a three-hour dialogue session with hundreds of students, during which he promised he “would not allow officers to enter the campus” unless an urgent situation called for it.
Earlier in the day, dozens of Open University students staged a sit-in and used chairs to block lifts as they demanded Wong speak with them about the alleged body search on campus on October 3.
According to the university’s student union, officers chased the student into the Ho Man Tin campus and conducted the body search after insults were shouted at police at the nearby Hung Hom Police Station. The student was not arrested.
At Friday’s session, angry students bombarded Wong with questions about whether he would condemn the police for “illegally trespassing on school campus” and if the university had followed up the matter with appropriate urgency.
“We have already brought the matter to police,” Wong said. “[I] would never want any law enforcement officers to enter the campus under normal circumstances.”
In a statement issued on Friday, the university said it had conveyed to the police “that law enforcement officers would have to contact university staff before entering campus in future unless the case is urgent”.
The school said if law enforcement officers wanted to enter campus, security officers would need to given the reason, the place they intended to go, and their warrant card numbers.
If officers were to enter campus, security officers “will accompany them all the way through”, it said.
The university conceded that if officers had a search or arrest warrant, the university would have to cooperate.
Director of Student Affairs Dorinda Chan Man-chi said in the dialogue that the group had spoken with the student involved, who is seeking CCTV footage from the university for further action.
Open University use chairs to block lifts on Friday at the Ho Man Tin campus. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Wong was repeatedly asked by students if he would condemn what they called “police brutality” toward protesters over the past few months.
Wong replied: “Violence from any side is unacceptable. If police officers used inappropriate force – that’s wrong.”
A student asked Wong if his role as a deputy convenor of Hong Kong’s delegation to the National People’s Congress would affect how he handled campus affairs.
“I am currently a member of the Open University. I am the president, I am also a professor. I only strive to do best for the university’s education work, all other [things] doesn’t matter,” he said.
An associate professor from the university tried to plead with students to be rational – but was repeatedly interrupted by students.
“If riot police wanted to come into the campus, I would stop them, I would,” the professor said.
“But I hope you understand that you [students] should not put your political stance before everything. Evidence should be gathered before one takes a side.”