Baptist University becomes second Hong Kong varsity to tighten access after trashing of city campuses during protests
- Institution installs card-reading machines at entrances after Polytechnic University set up turnstiles last week
- Move has raised concerns over an invasion of privacy and a possible breach of land lease conditions over the public’s access to an open area on campus
Baptist University has become the second varsity in Hong Kong to install card-reading machines at entrances to strengthen access control, after anti-government protesters vandalised and occupied some campuses last year.
But the move has raised concerns over an invasion of privacy and a possible breach of land lease conditions on the provision of the public’s access to an open area on the Kowloon Tong campus.
When the university planned a campus extension in 2007 for a School of Communication and Academy of Visual Arts building, public open space of about 1,800 square metres (19,375 square feet) was promised.
According to its land lease and a Legislative Council document, the university said it would provide a sculpture garden with student artwork that would be open from 6am to 11pm every day. The building was completed in 2010 after lawmakers approved HK$237 million (US$30.5 million) in funding.
Last week, Polytechnic University in Hung Hom installed turnstiles at the campus’ three main entrances despite its land lease stating that a 7,850 square metre open space must be accessible to the public between 7am and midnight.