Hong Kong student union disbands after pressure from university

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ANKARA (AA) – Amid pressure, the 50-year-old Chinese University of Hong Kong’s student union formally disbanded on Thursday, it said in a statement.

The group held a joint meeting on Sept. 10, where the decision to resign en masse, and dissolve the union was taken.

The move came eight months after the university demanded of the union to seek an independent registration with government agencies "instead of recognizing our registration on campus as had been the long-established practice."

It said it was “torn between following legal advice or complying with the university administration’s demand," adding that it is a matter of "profound regret" that the union is "now history."

Many students groups and democratic associations have dissolved since China implemented a national security law in the semi-autonomous region last year.

Critics say the law undermines the “one country, two systems” policy – an agreement under which Hong Kong was handed back to China from British control in 1997.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​