‘Path open’ for revival of CUHK student union – if it registers, Dennis Lo says

Dennis Lo Yuk-ming, the president of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), has stated that the path to reviving the university's main student union is open, provided it registers with authorities in compliance with the law. Lo dismissed accusations of overreliance on students from mainland China, highlighting the university's efforts to diversify.

In an interview with the South China Morning Post, he mentioned that the revival of the central union is possible through legal registration, citing the two college unions that have already registered. However, he did not provide a timeline for this process. Lo emphasized that the university's position on student union registration remains unchanged, requiring registration under the Societies Ordinance or the Companies Ordinance.

The main student union, known as "Syzygia," resigned in March 2021 after CUHK warned about legal risks under the national security law, leading to its dissolution in October 2021. Other student unions at universities such as the University of Hong Kong, Baptist University, and Polytechnic University also disbanded due to similar demands for independent registration.

Currently, only the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology's student union remains active among the city's publicly funded universities, while City University's union continues to operate in a separate location. Lo expressed the university's commitment to increasing diversity and inclusivity, noting that the university and its colleges provide support for student activities and have seen a rise in participation numbers.

He also pointed out that the university is attracting more international applications, with non-local applications increasing by 20% year-on-year, and out-of-China applications rising by 75%.