Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) has suspended its student union’s operations. It came one day after union notice board messages urging the government to respond to public concerns over the fatal Tai Po blaze were hidden from view by HKBU workers.
The order, sent to the acting executive committee of the Hong Kong Baptist University Student Union (HKBUSU) on Thursday afternoon, took “immediate effect,” according to a letter posted on the union’s social media pages. HKBU alleged that the union had poor membership and had failed in areas such as financial management.
The student union’s announcement came days after a message mourning the victims of the deadly blaze, and calling for accountability, was posted on a “democracy wall” managed by the student body.
So far, last Wednesday’s fire at Wang Fuk Court is known to have killed 159 people.
The signs on the student message board said: “Deep condolences to the deceased from the Wang Fuk Court fire. We are Hongkongers. We urge the government to heed public concerns. Respond to public’s requests. Justice must be served.”
About a day after photos of the board were shared online, workers boarded up the message board and hid it from view. Plastic hoarding and materials wrapped in green netting – similar to the material said to have exacerbated the fatal blaze – were used to block the banner.
The plastic barriers had signs on them that read “temporary material storage zone,” and “work in progress.”
‘Ulterior motives’
Under the suspension, the university will take over all facilities managed by the union, including its offices and bulletin board. Union officers will be required to remove their personal belongings and vacate from its office by 5pm on Saturday, according to Thursday’s letter from the HKBU Office of Student Affairs.
The office’s letter did not mention the message about the Tai Po fire on the notice board, but alleged that only a small percentage of students were members of the union, that it had not demonstrated a strong commitment to student welfare, and that it had not demonstrated “willingness to abide by regulations of the university in areas such as financial management.”
See also: Baptist University campus banner urging gov’t respond to public concerns hidden by barriers
In a response to HKFP on Friday, HKBU reiterated their reasoning for the move given earlier to students, and did not answer questions about the notice board.
In a statement issued during the early hours of Friday, the HKBUSU said it “strongly condemns this unreasonable action” and that it would have been “fully capable of providing adequate explanations.”
“The University’s irrational action raises concerns about potential ulterior motives behind this forced suspension,” it added.
“The Union strongly condemns the University’s deceitful and untrustworthy handling of this matter and urges the University to reflect on its attitude toward students. We call on the University to communicate with the Union directly, to ensure the normal continuation of its operations.”
