City
Epaper

HK varsities struggle to recover from protest chaos

By IANS | Updated: December 9, 2019 13:35 IST

Hong Kong universities, which turned into anti-government battlegrounds last month, were struggling to recover from the protest chaos, with some holding classes in hotels and others making students video themselves taking exams at home, a report said on Monday.

Open in App

At least six universities were damaged last month, while radical protesters occupied Chinese and Polytechnic Universities and surrounding areas, blocking roads and attacking officers with petrol bombs, the South China Morning Post said in the report.

Police responded with thousands of rounds of tear gas.

The most intense violence was at PolyU, where police besieged hardline protesters trapped on the campus for nearly two weeks.

Classes at 11 public and privately funded universities, as well as most of the higher education institutions, were cancelled for the rest of term.

Bruce Lui Ping-kuen, a senior lecturer at Baptist University's department of journalism, said that it had booked function rooms at a four-star hotel for lectures and provided free buffets for students. But he said attendance was only about 50 per cent so far.

While he had uploaded teaching materials online for his courses, and met students in small groups over meals outside campus, he said internet-based learning was flawed.

Meanwhile, students at the Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI) have started a petition demanding refunds over suspended classes.

At the University of Hong Kong (HKU), exams were conducted online and students asked to record a video that "clearly shows the face of the student taking the exam", as evidence they had not cheated.

The Chinese University said faculties had "started to adopt alternative modes of teaching and assessment".

Monday marked the six-month anniversary of the start of the protests on June 9, when an estimated 1 million people took to the streets to oppose the now-withdrawn extradition bill.

Hong Kong's anti-government protests have transformed from peaceful demonstrations into outbreaks of violence, notably in tourist, commercial and residential districts.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: Hong KongPolytechnic UniversitiesPolyu
Open in App

Related Stories

CricketHabibur Rahman’s 35-Ball Century Powers Bangladesh A to 8-Wicket Win Over Hong Kong A in Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 (VIDEO)

CricketBAN-A vs HK LIVE Cricket Streaming: When and Where to Watch Bangladesh A vs Hong Kong Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 Match 3 in India

Mumbai₹58-Crore Digital Arrest Scam: Maharashtra Cyber Probe Reveals Links to China, Hong Kong and Indonesia

CricketHong Kong Sixes 2025 Final: Pakistan to Face Kuwait In Summit Clash Today at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground

CricketAustralia and Pakistan Qualify for Hong Kong Sixes 2025 Semis

International Realted Stories

InternationalBharat Solar Yatra launches official website to boost India's clean energy transition

InternationalChina lashes out at Philippines over joint drills with US, Japan

InternationalUAE marks International Day for Tolerance, reinforces global role in promoting moderation

InternationalDubai Supreme Council of Energy steps up LPG inspection campaign

InternationalTerrorist killed after throwing explosives at Israeli soldiers