Advertisement

Hong Kong Baptist University relents, agrees to review suspensions over Mandarin protest

Officials praise students for apologising to teachers and are expected to announce their decision before the week is over

Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
0
Roland Chin sent an email to students, staff and alumni saying he was pleased that two suspended students apologised to teachers. Photo: Edward Wong

Beleaguered Baptist University officials softened their stance on Wednesday, saying they would review the suspension of two students over alleged threats to staff during a stand-off on campus.

The announcement, made in an email to students, staff and alumni by president Roland Chin Tai-hong, came a day after student union president Lau Tsz-kei and Chinese medicine student Andrew Chan Lok-hang apologised to teachers in person.

Baptist University should stop forcing students to do courses

“We are pleased to know that the two suspended students had taken the initiative to apologise in person to language centre colleagues yesterday, expressing their remorseful regret and their willingness to bear the responsibility for what they have done,” the email read.

The decision to review also coincided with an ultimatum the students issued to the school during a protest against the suspensions on Friday that drew 300 people. They said they could escalate action if the suspensions were not lifted.

(From left) Lau Tsz-kei and Andrew Chan Lok-hang will learn the fate of their suspensions by the end of this week. Photo: Winson Wong
(From left) Lau Tsz-kei and Andrew Chan Lok-hang will learn the fate of their suspensions by the end of this week. Photo: Winson Wong

Lau and Chan were among 30 students who stormed the school’s language centre two weeks ago, demanding the university end a Mandarin requirement needed to graduate.

They were also demanding greater transparency for a test that exempts students from the course after 70 per cent of those who took the exam failed.

Advertisement