Overview
- Hong Kong Baptist University ordered the acting executive committee of its student union to halt operations with immediate effect and said it would take control of the union’s facilities, according to a letter shared Friday.
- The university cited low membership, lack of representation, and failures to follow financial rules as reasons for the suspension, and it did not reference the fire in confirming the action.
- The union rejected the allegations as unfounded and arbitrary, said the move raised concerns about ulterior motives, and claimed membership had grown sixfold from last year.
- Photos showed a message on the union-run ‘democracy wall’ offering condolences and urging the government to heed public demands for justice after the Wang Fuk Court blaze that killed at least 159 people, and AFP observed the board later barricaded.
- Authorities have warned against exploiting the tragedy and, according to reports, have arrested at least three people on sedition-related allegations, including a YouTuber detained over remarks about the fire.