Hong Kong’s oldest university refused to provide a venue for students to mourn the victims of the Tai Po fire earlier this month, citing concerns of “social instability” and “force majeure”, according to its campus publication.
In a reply to inquiries by the Post, a University of Hong Kong (HKU) spokesman said on Monday the institution had maintained communication with student representatives over venue applications from student organisations, which were assessed in accordance with established guidelines. But he did not address the specific issue of the venue for a memorial event.
Eight student societies at HKU issued a joint statement earlier this month in the wake of the November 26 blaze that raged through seven of the eight blocks at Wang Fuk Court, claiming at least 161 lives. The groups called on the government to respond to public calls and said they planned to hold campus events to mourn the victims.
But five of the eight societies told the student-run publication, Undergrad, that the university had refused to provide them with a venue for a planned memorial service, prompting them to eventually cancel the event.
According to the publication, the Social Sciences Society said the university did not provide a detailed reason for the refusal but expressed concerns about the “current social instability” and “force majeure circumstances”.
That student group, along with the Architectural Society and the Social Sciences Society, also said that the university had urged them against holding any form of memorial activities.
