Nursing society dropped from HKU list over sex-assault link

The University of Hong Kong's nursing society has been removed as a student organization following sexual harassment allegations during its orientation camp in August.

The society has not confirmed or denied whether it has been deregistered and said its Instagram account has been hacked.

HKU has not responded to media inquiries.

The list of student societies registered with the university's co-curricular support office was updated on September 12 and no longer includes the nursing society.

In August a nursing freshman alleged that male seniors indecently assaulted female freshmen and smoked marijuana at the orientation camp.

The society's last Instagram post on August 26 was in response to the scandal.

According to Campus TV of the HKU Students' Union, the society on Tuesday confirmed that it has suspended operations and will not organize activities anymore.

"The decision of deregistration was made by the university. The nursing society is no longer a registered student organization under CCSO, and we have ceased operation and we are unable to organize activities for our members," the society was quoted as saying to the campus media.

However, the society clarified in an e-mail on Wednesday that its Instagram account had been inaccessible since noon on Tuesday and was suspected to have been hacked. Tuesday's reply was made by hackers who do not represent its position.

The society still has not disclosed the reason for being dropped from the CCSO list or provided any details on membership fees refunds or whether there will be a new nursing society.

The Medical Society told Campus TV it never received any application for dissolution from its members, the nursing society or the resignation of an executive committee member. It also said the nursing society did not report a deregistration.

But the Medical Society did not reply to questions by Campus TV about dissolution procedures for a student association under it or provide any relevant documents.

Police arrested HKU student Tang Ho-yin, 20, in August and charged him with two counts of indecent assault.

Tang has been granted HK$5,000 bail. The case was adjourned to November 13.

Meanwhile, all 11 Hong Kong universities earlier pledged to review their arrangements for orientation activities and to improve reporting mechanisms, according to the Education Bureau.

Legislative Council members will discuss the management of student-led activities in universities and moral education in an education panel meeting today.

The bureau said in papers submitted to the panel that the government adopts "zero-tolerance" toward any student's illegal behavior, breach of discipline or bullying and suggested institutions to root out and stop such acts immediately.

stacy.shi@singtaonewscorp.com