Clashes break out between riot police and radical protesters at Chinese University in Sha Tin in November last year. Photo: Sam Tsang
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https://scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3109439/hong-kong-university-removes-display-event-marking-protest Education
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
Photos showing last year’s occupation of the Chinese University campus are displayed in an exhibition organised by the student union. Photo: K. Y. Cheng
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.
Dozens of news photographs were shown in two areas – at the Cultural Square and near the MTR station. The timeline included titles such as “the ignition of the battle”, “escalating conflicts” and “the battle ceased, the war went on”.
But some photos and materials carrying the slogan “Free Hong Kong; revolution now” were covered up by the student union, out of legal concerns previously raised by university management.
The slogan is similar to “Liberate Hong Kong; revolution of our times”, which authorities regard as a violation of the national security law imposed on the city by Beijing on June 30.
In a statement issued in the afternoon, a university spokesman expressed deep regret that the display contained “biased descriptions” about the incident.
Shortly after, the university management removed the materials displayed near the MTR station, saying it was not part of the approved exhibition area.
“Although university staff had repeatedly discussed the matter with the organiser and stressed that all events and exhibitions held on campus should adhere to regulations … they still held [part of] the exhibition in an unapproved area,” a statement said.
“The university also has a responsibility to ban any acts or events that are in breach of existing regulations, to protect the benefits of the entire university and all its members. If law enforcement agencies need to enter the campus to carry out any investigations, the university will cooperate.”
Some photos and materials that carried the protest slogan “Free Hong Kong; revolution now” were covered up by the student union. Photo: K. Y. Cheng
But Owen Au Cheuk-hei, chairman of the student union’s provisional executive committee, insisted the exhibition did not violate laws or tarnish the institution’s image.
“[We hope] the university management can spell out to us in particular which of the photos displayed carried a biased description,” he said.
Graffiti was also found in various parts of the campus in the early hours of Wednesday, including one in Chinese saying “Hong Kong independence”.
The university spokesman said the writings were “irresponsible” acts of vandalism and warned of legal implications.
He said the university would follow up on the matters with disciplinary procedures, without elaborating.
Separately, in an interview published on Monday, Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung Yun-hung asked all university authorities to better supervise student activities on campus, saying “certain new arrangements and requirements” might be required in future.
Last week, Chinese University threatened to cancel the event over a promotional poster released by the student union bearing the slogan “Free Hong Kong; revolution now” and photos of its incumbent and former vice-chancellors Rocky Tuan Sung-chi and Joseph Sung Jao-yiu. The event was given a go-ahead after union representatives met management, although they were reminded of the potential legal risks.