Hong Kong’s Lingnan University Students’ Union disbands after 59 years

The student union at Hong Kong's Lingnan University has announced its disbandment after 59 years of operation, citing "changes in circumstances inside and outside school" as the reason for its decision. The Lingnan University Students' Union (LUSU) informed the public about the resolution of disbandment through social media platforms this week.

Established in 1967, LUSU had been dedicated to promoting the wellbeing of Lingnan University students while also raising awareness of broader social issues and the development of Hong Kong.

The decision to dissolve the union followed a meeting where a resolution was passed and several factors were carefully weighed. In a statement released in Chinese, LUSU expressed gratitude to the students for their support throughout its history and urged them to remain vigilant about campus affairs. With this disbandment, only two other publicly funded universities in Hong Kong, the City University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, still maintain active student unions.

Student unions in Hong Kong have historically played a role in the city's pro-democracy movements, participating in events such as the 2014 Umbrella Movement and the 2019 protests. However, the introduction of a Beijing-imposed national security law in 2020 significantly dampened dissent. Some universities have since distanced themselves from their student unions, with LUSU explicitly distancing itself from the university in July 2024.

Lingnan University had declared its lack of affiliation with LUSU, stating that the latter's actions and statements were inconsistent with the university's core values and damaging to its reputation.

In July 2024, four members of LUSU's newly elected cabinet expressed their intention to continue a "democratic exercise" despite mounting pressure from university management. However, the disbandment of LUSU marks the end of an era for student unions at Lingnan University as the city's higher education landscape continues to evolve.