A spokeswoman for the institution says the vice-chancellor is not in a celebratory mood after the riot, when two university students were arrested
EMILY.TSANG@SCMP.COM
PUBLISHED : Friday, 12 February, 2016, 7:45pm
UPDATED : Friday, 12 February, 2016, 7:47pm
Scholarism's Derek Lam (centre) was one of two Chinese University students arrested after the riot. Photo: Felix Wong
The Chinese University of Hong Kong is cancelling an annual Lunar New Year celebration with the press next week, saying it is not appropriate to hold a party after “recent disturbances”.
It came after the Mong Kok riot on Monday, Two students from the university were among 64 people arrested in connection with the disturbance.
READ MORE: Three more Hongkongers appear in court over Mong Kok riot, including Scholarism activist
One of those detained was Scholarism activist Derek Lam Shun-hin, a theology student who is due to stand trial next week for an alleged assault during the 2014 Occupy protests.
The event was supposed to be an annual spring reception for the media to meet vice-chancellor Professor Joseph Sung Jao-yiu, provost Professor Benjamin Wah Wan-Sang and other high-level staff.
But other universities, including the University of Hong Kong in Pok Fu Lam, which also had several students arrested during the riot, will go ahead with its annual spring reception.
“Given the recent disturbances, the university believes that it is not an appropriate time to hold a media reception to celebrate the Chinese New Year,” said the Sha Tin university in a statement.
A spokeswoman for the university later confirmed that the decision to halt the gathering at the vice-chancellor’s lodge on the coming Monday was made due to the riot.
READ MORE: Beijing brands instigators of Mong Kok riot as Hong Kong ‘separatists’
“Our vice-chancellor was saddened by the injuries caused by the violent disturbances, and he does not feel in a celebratory mood right now,” she added.
She offered her apologies for the inconvenience caused.
On Thursday, Chinese University issued a statement condemning any act of violence. It said two of its students had been arrested, and it would continue to keep track of the latest developments and what was happening to the students.
A spokeswoman for the University of Hong Kong said it did not have any plan to halt its annual press gathering with vice-chancellor Professor Peter Mathieson at his lodge next Thursday .
Other institutions including the University of Science and Technology in Sai Kung also said they would not cancel their spring receptions for the media.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1912433/chinese-university-hong-kong-cancels-spring
