HKBU students' union editorial board resigns en masse slamming school intervention

The Students' Union Editorial Board of the Hong Kong Baptist University announced their resignation en masse on Friday night, saying it was because of the school's intervention on its publications and the stifling of press freedom of the city. 

A statement released last night on Facebook said the school had asked the board to delete certain content in an email recruiting reporters last year and intervened in its reportage on the school's national security courses. The university once asked the board to stop using the term "Wuhan virus" as well. 

The statement continued that last Friday (Jan 21), the university requested the board to shelve its publication Jumbo 54.1 and delete the call for entry for the next issue by 5pm that day without giving written notice. 

The school explicitly said they would stop Jumbo 54.2 from being published and even banned the board's right to access its official email address (sueb@so.hkbu.edu.hk), the statement added. 

The board then said their office term would end in about a month, and the mass resignation was definitely not what they wished for, but they chose not to linger for a last breath. 

The board also warned other schools' media of the coming suppression by authorities and hoped the remaining press freedom would be treasured. 

The school responded late at night and said it received complaints about the content of Jumbo 54.1 and sought legal advice, which pointed out that some of the content may be illegal. Therefore the school discussed the issues with the board and urged them to retract all published Jumbo 54.1. 

The school also said it strongly condemned the board for using the stigmatizing term "Wuhan virus" and advised the board not to use it anymore. 

The university then decided to cut ties with the board and stripped their rights to access the facilities on the campus after factoring in the board's responsibilities and attitude in handling this incident. 

The school said it will also initiate disciplinary procedures against students involved for their misbehavior.