University Students Joined Hong Kong's 'Umbrella Revolution'

Our Voice
P.12, October Issue

Report by Season Ho
Photos by Season Ho and Henry Chau

University Students Joined Hong Kong's 'Umbrella Revolution'

University students kicked off their class boycott for democracy and universal suffrage on September 22, launching a week-long protest that became known as the 'umbrella revolution'. The protest were followed by chaos between police and protestors and the blocking of major roads around Hong Kong.

The movement made front-page headlines and was covered widely by international and local media, and was documented through social media platforms such as Facebook.

The class boycott on September 22 started with a kickoff ceremony at the Chinese University of Hong Kong'a main campus in Sha Tin. The organizer, Hong Kong Federation of Students estimated that 13,000 people secondary school pupils, exchange students, teachers and the general public.

“We have to tell the that Hong Kong people are willing to sacrifice much more,” Alex Chow Yong Kang, the secretary general of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, said. “These 13,000 students are the future pillar of the society, and they are willing to take risk even they know that the PRC government might not respond to them. Can CY Leung hear our voice?”

As a symbol of the campaign, students dressed in white and wore yellow ribbon. Shue Yan Action, the class boycott committee in HKSYU, estimated that at least 150 students joined the kickoff .

A participant from Shue Yan, Chan Yee Man said that she sent mails to professors, expressing her decision to attend the class boycott.

“I knew the risk and I knI might not have enough attendance to let me sit for the final examination, which means I have to retake some of the subjects next year,” the journalism student said. “But I think the democracy of Hong Kong is more importantithout the freedom to have universal suffrage, there’s no point for us no matter how educated we are.”

Earlier on September, members of Shue Yan Action h banners outside the Lady Lily Shaw Hall. The Office of Student Affairs, however, sent staff to take them off within minutes justification was that Shue Yan Action didn’t submitted the application of banner display.

“We treat all student groups equally, if they have any needs, the OSA will try to help in whatever way that is within our limit,” OSA replied to Our Voice’s inquiry on the incident.

The OSA did provide the 35th Anniversary Plaza for Shue Yan Action to organize assembly and display posters and leaflets after negotiation.

The spokesperson of Shue Yan Action ,Chan Kwok Hin, said the class boycott was even supported by alumni, “n alumni who owns a printing shop gave us free printing assistance for the class boycott.”

Chan said that throughout the week, volunteers have been going to different lectures to promote their idea of class boycott, and most professors welcome their short presentation. e is optimistic about the emergence of political discussions in SYU.

“We are surprised by the supportiveness and open mindedness displayed by the University, knowing that they were quite conservative politically in the pastthe emergence of political discussions is definitely a breakthrough in Shue Yan,” he added.

Within the six-day class boycott at the Central Government Offices, students and the public occupied the streets of Hong Kong at Admiralty, Causeway Bay and Mongkok. There were incidents where police used pepper spray and tear gas. Huge crowds continue to surge onto the streets and at press time the protests continue.