Hong Kong students demand justice

The Hong Kong Students Federation (HKFS), together with student unions from eight universities, intend to go on strike if they are not allowed to change laws related to higher education.

Hong Kong students want to make some amendments to university laws, namely to elect the rector by votes rather than be content with automatic appointment... For this, it is planned to hold a referendum to be held in February 2016. Issues related to the management structure of universities will also be discussed there. A proposal has been made to increase the share of teachers and representatives of student organizations in the management staff of each university.

"The referendum is a response to the growing threat of political interference in the academic world in Hong Kong," said Alan Wong Ka-Fai, Deputy Secretary General of the HKFS.

The following universities will participate in the referendum: University of Hong Kong, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Lingnan University, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Institute of Education and Hong Kong Open University.

Hong Kong City University will not participate in the referendum as their Student Union was abolished, but Wong has promised to keep in touch with the participants.

However, on October 9, about 3,000 students, alumni and faculty gathered at the University of Hong Kong to protest government interference in university management.