Baptist U Staff Demand Student's Release

Forty-five members of the teaching staff at Baptist University have issued a statement demanding the police unconditionally release the head of the institution's student union, Keith Fong, who was arrested on Tuesday night for carrying 10 laser pointers.

The teachers condemned the arrest, saying it was unreasonable and the charge against Fong is fabricated.

In the statement released on Wednesday, they accused the police of abusing their power.

"The police have arrested a Hong Kong citizen based on his consumption of a common commodity. This reveals that the police have abused their power and have made arbitrary arrests in an out-of-control manner," the statement said.

They also urged the force to stop spreading what they called white terror among the public.

The statement came after the university’s president, Roland Chin, met the police on Wednesday morning asking them to treat Fong and another student from the university – who was arrested during a demonstration outside Sham Shui Po Police Station – fairly.

Chin said the institution is consulting legal experts and offering help to the two students.

The university head also issued an open letter, calling on the government and the police to “respond positively to “widespread public concerns” over “the latest police actions”. But he did not explain what he was referring to.