Media

Response to yesterday’s demonstration on campus and the way it was handled

19 Aug 2011

 

In response to the incident caused by the demonstration on the University's campus yesterday, HKU Vice-Chancellor Professor Lap-Chee Tsui has expressed his deep concern and believed that the police will also review its deployment operations.

Professor Tsui said, "HKU has always been a place of knowledge and diverse views. The University has been firm on our traditions of freedom, openness and diversity, and will continue to encourage and protect the freedom of independent thought and speech. The University is a place where facts are discussed and the truth is sought. We encourage different opinions and have always insisted on being open and inclusive. We appreciate the peaceful and rational manner of expression by HKU students and alumni yesterday, which was an excellent example of peaceful demonstration."

The University should ensure the safety of its students and members at all times. However, we are concerned about what happened yesterday and will evaluate on it. We also believe that the police will review the deployment of yesterday's operation for their future reference.

Yesterday's experience has proved once again that the Campus is a peaceful and rational place, where absolute respect is given to the expression of views, and a conducive space for and an open attitude to these views can be found.

We are grateful for all the care and constructive criticism from our staff, students, alumni and members of the public, and we understand their high expectations of us. On the occasion of HKU's Centenary, we have been reflecting on our past, present and future missions. We sincerely hope that we can shape our future together with the community.