PolyU severs ties with its own students' union

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has severed ties with its students' union after demanding it to stop using the university's name or claiming affiliation with the institution, according to the union.

The union's Ad-hoc Executive Committee said the university had also told it in a letter sent on Thursday that all of its affiliated organizations must move out of the university campus by July 15 this year.

The union said the move came after it had refused to sign an agreement with the university requiring it not to carry out any acts that would damage the institution's reputation, without spelling out details of the requirement.

The union said it decided not to accept the agreement after the majority of its members had voted against signing it in January.

It expressed deep regret over the university’s decision, saying the union had been serving PolyU students for half a century and been a bridge between the study body and the university.

The decision means the university no longer recognizes the union's official status and would deprive student’s rights, the union added.