Hong Kong PolyU Becomes Third University to Distance Its Administration from Student Union

Hong Kong Poly U administrators announced that they would no longer collect dues for the student union, following in the wake of City U and University of Hong Kong, which in recent days publicly removed their support for the independent groups on campus. 

The move comes during a troubled time for democracy advocates and student life stewards on university campuses. Hong Kong Poly U holds a particularly problematic place in the local city history during the pro-democracy protests two years ago, in 2019. 

Student protestors hurl molotov cocktails at police during the Poly U siege, November 2019 -- photo credit Wikipedia

It was during those protests that students barricaded themselves inside the campus and refused to come out, throwing molotov cocktails, bricks, and other heavy objects and chemicals at police. The siege lasted one week and five days. While a majority of students fled the campus during the standoff, a small number turned themselves over to police. 

University of Hong Kong administrators last weekend removed pro-democracy posters that were hung up around the campus there. And yesterday they announced they would no longer support the student union as an organization after student leaders publicly sympathised with a police attacker who committed suicide in busy Causeway Bay a few days ago.