HONG KONG—Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) administration has ordered the indefinite cessation of its student union’s operations, a decision announced late Thursday, December 4, following the display of politically charged posters on the union’s dedicated noticeboard, commonly known as the “Democracy Wall.” The university demanded that union facilities, including their office space and the noticeboard, be vacated and surrendered to management control by 5 p.m. on December 6, triggering a sharp protest from the student representatives who decried the move as unilateral and unduly hasty.
The core dispute revolves around messages posted on the noticeboard on December 2. These posters mourned the victims of the recent Wang Fuk Court fire and included phrases calling for government accountability and justice, such as “Let justice be done” and “We urge the Government to heed public demands.” Shortly after the flyers appeared, the noticeboard was physically restricted with barriers and hoardings.
University Cites Management and Mandate Concerns
In its notification to the union, the HKBU administration cited several reasons for the suspension, including questioning the student union’s mandate due to a perceived low membership base and querying whether the group was effectively serving student interests and providing welfare.
The student union countered that the administration’s claims were unfounded. They acknowledged a temporary drop in membership after the university ceased collecting membership dues on their behalf starting in the 2021–22 academic year. However, the union stated it had since dramatically increased recruitment efforts and reduced fees, resulting in a sixfold increase in membership compared to the previous year. Furthermore, the union argued that its wide umbrella—encompassing academic societies, interest groups, and hall representatives—demonstrates broad representativeness, despite the central administration’s narrow focus on dues-paying members.
Regarding governance, the university also flagged concerns about the union’s alleged reluctance to adhere to institutional financial rules. The union refuted this, stating that recent meetings on November 18 and 21 with the Student Affairs Office had concluded with a consensus to revise financial regulations, implement receipt-based disbursement procedures, and submit proposals to the council, signaling compliance rather than resistance.
Union Condemns Closure as “Baseless”
In a statement issued early Friday, December 5, the student union condemned the administration’s notice—which was delivered through an email and a posted notice outside their office—as a “precipitous” action taken without adequate consultation. They questioned the legitimacy of the university’s demand for the premises to be cleared within a 48-hour window, suggesting that “other motives” might underpin the abrupt suspension, specifically pointing toward the political content displayed on the Democracy Wall.
The union cited a history of increasing administrative interference, noting that the university recently reclaimed their office, storage facilities, and council room, and had seized control of two co-operative shops the union operated last year, alleging poor management. They claimed these actions consistently hampered their ability to organize activities and serve the student body.
Lamenting what it called “baseless justifications” and “pretexts,” the union accused the university of neglecting student welfare and neglecting the efforts of its elected office-bearers, asserting that the unilateral actions had demoralized committee members and disheartened the wider student population. The student body representatives urged the university leadership to engage in direct dialogue to resolve the matter and restore normal operations, emphasizing the need for proper channels of student engagement. As of press time, HKBU had not publicly commented on the rationale for the suspension or confirmed its relation to the noticeboard content.