HKU Court Members Demand End To Student Ban

Seven members of the University of Hong Kong's legislative body have demanded the institution's governing council end its campus ban on all students who attended a controversial union meeting last month.

In an open letter issued late on Thursday, the court members said the move was "legally inappropriate."

They noted that the penalised students had not violated any disciplinary rules listed in the University of Hong Kong Ordinance.

The members also accused the council of overstepping its authority, noting that none of the students had been charged with an offence and even if they had, this would be a matter for the university's disciplinary committee to look at.

They said the council's decision had breached procedural justice, as it did not give the students a chance to defend themselves.

The members also criticised the council for stripping the students of their learning opportunities and failing public expectations for a university to provide guidance to students.

A students' union meeting last month sparked a police national security probe after a motion was passed thanking a man who died after stabbing a police officer on July 1 for his "sacrifice".

The union apologised and withdrew the motion, and four executive committee members resigned from their posts.