All hell broke loose at the University of Hong Kong campus in Pok Fu Lam last night as angry students stormed a governing council meeting and demanded to talk with divisive Beijing-backed academic Arthur Li, reports say.
At 10pm, approximately 200 students remained on campus, refusing to let Li and HKU vice chancellor Peter Mathieson leave the Hong Kong Jockey Club Building for Interdisciplinary Research, reports the SCMP.
Police officers from the Tactical Unit were deployed to help escort council members away from the building. Council member Leonie Ki complained she felt ill and was taken to the hospital, but was stuck in the ambulance for an hour while it made its way through the crowd.
Li, whose recent appointment as HKU’s council chairman has been met with criticism from students and professors alike, had reportedly promised students they would have the opportunity to converse with him after the meeting.
However, at 12.45am, a confrontation occurred between police and students, during which Ming Pao reports officers pointed pepper spray at the crowd. The confrontation was reportedly used as a method of distraction, while Li was escorted out of the building and swiftly driven away.
Li’s departure was later confirmed by HKU’s communication department. Mathieson then engaged in a half an hour dialogue with students at approximately 1.30am, and promised to meet their representatives. Mathieson also expressed his support for the council’s decision to set up a committee to review HKU’s governance structure.
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