HONG KONG – The University of Hong Kong announced on Friday that it is cutting off services to its students’ union because the group has become increasingly politicized.

In a statement, the university said it will cease providing financial management services, offices and other facilities to the Hong Kong University Students’ Union in view of its radical acts and remarks.

“The university is not a safe haven outside the law,” the statement said.

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) also stressed that it’s not “acceptable” for the HKUSU, as an independent student organization, to disregard the university’s advice and the overall interests of the HKU community while taking advantage of the services and facilities that the university offers

The decision came after members of the union openly opposed Hong Kong’s ongoing electoral reform, and criticized the National Security Law for Hong Kong, and the university itself. In an April 16 open letter, the union accused the university president of “collusion with your counterparts of other institutions” in a “play of the jackal to the tiger” by introducing national security education in the next semester. 

The university statement pointed out that the students’ union “has become increasingly politicized in recent years, utilizing the university campus as a platform for its political propaganda”.

“It has repeatedly made inflammatory and potentially unlawful public statements and allegations against the university,” the statement said.

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HKU also stressed that it’s not “acceptable” for the HKUSU, as an independent student organization, to disregard the university’s advice and the overall interests of the HKU community while taking advantage of the services and facilities that the university offers.

The union’s radical acts and remarks to an extent have undermined the overall interests of the university and tarnished its own reputation, HKU said, adding the union’s actions also bring legal risks to the university.

“It is now imperative for the university to clearly define the legal responsibilities of both parties,” HKU said.

Andrew Fung Wai-kwong, former information coordinator for the Office of the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, said HKU’s response is justified.

Because the students’ union and its pro-independence members have continually turned a blind eye to the university’s advice and warnings, they have to face the consequences, Fung said.

There’s no need for the union to drag down all the students, employees and stakeholders and taint the university’s reputation, Fung added.

Fung said he believes HKU’s decision is a final warning. As universities are not lawless places, the union’s leaders should correct their wrongdoings and pull back before it is too late, he said.

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Ho Hon-kuen, chairman of Education Convergence and principal of the Centre of National History Education (Hong Kong), said it’s reasonable and justified for HKU to take decisive executive measures, noting that the premise of freedom is abiding by the law and respecting others.

kathyzhang@chinadailyhk.com