China tensions hit UTAS

UNIVERSITY of Tasmania staff had to stop Chinese students this week tearing down a pro-democracy poster display in a student lounge.

A spokesman confirmed the Tuesday incident and said UTAS was “closely monitoring the situation”.

UNIVERSITY of Tasmania staff and security had to intervene in an attempt by students to remove pro-democracy posters from a student lounge at the Hobart campus, as local tensions rose in response to the political situation in Hong Kong.

On Sunday, Hong Kong police arrested more than 20 people after violent clashes with anti-government protesters.

The Chinese-controlled territory is bracing for more protests and a general strike aimed to bring the city to a halt.

On Saturday, police fired tear gas rounds in confrontations with black-clad activists in the city’s Kowloon area, the latest escalation after more than two months of protests against a proposed bill to allow people to be extradited to stand trial in mainland China.

A University of Tasmania spokesman said the university was aware a poster display was removed by students from a wall of the student lounge on the Sandy Bay campus earlier this week and was “looking into this matter”.

“A new poster display has been put up and we know there have been discussions among students about attempting to remove it,” the spokesman said.

“There was another attempt to remove the material [Tuesday] afternoon and the university intervened to stop that happening. We are closely monitoring the situation.

“The protection of freedom of speech on university campuses is paramount, as is the safety of our students.”

A student, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Mercury more posters and sticky notes with messages of support for those in Hong Kong were again removed during the early hours of yesterday morning.

Known as a “Lennon Wall”, colourful public messages of support for Hong Kong protesters have been appearing around the world.

Last weekend, vandals also tore down messages of support for Hong Kong from a Lennon Wall erected at the University of Queensland.