Lingnan University student union disbands after 59 years
HKFP · 1 SOURCESabout 7 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Lingnan University Students’ Union said on Thursday that it has disbanded after 59 years of operation, following the passage of a dissolution resolution at a meeting earlier this week. The union cited changing circumstances inside and outside the university, describing the move as a difficult decision after balancing different factors.
Key Points
- The Lingnan University Students’ Union, founded in 1967, said it had long promoted student wellbeing and concern for Hong Kong’s broader social development.
- In its Chinese-language statement on social media, LUSU thanked students for years of support and urged continued attention to campus affairs.
- The disbandment leaves only two active student unions at Hong Kong’s publicly funded universities: City University of Hong Kong and HKUST.
- Student unions in Hong Kong were active in the 2014 Umbrella Movement and 2019 protests before the 2020 national security law sharply reduced dissent.
- In July last year, Lingnan University said it had no affiliation with LUSU, calling it an externally registered society that harmed the university’s reputation.
Why It Matters
The closure adds to the steady disappearance of student unions across Hong Kong, reflecting how campus organisations have been reshaped since the 2020 Beijing-imposed national security law. It also underscores the widening institutional distance between universities and student bodies once seen as important voices in campus governance and wider civic debate.