This undated photo shows a sign of the Chinese Unversity of Hong Kong in Sha Tin, Hong Kong. (PHOTO / CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG - The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has withdrawn recognition of its student union, saying criticism of the city’s National Security Law by newly elected union leaders may have been illegal.

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Union leaders “have made false allegations against the university and exploited the campus for their political propaganda, which...brought the university into disrepute,” the university said in a statement late on Thursday.

In its manifesto, Syzygia, the union's newly elected executive committee, had said the security law "infringed basic human rights and freedom."

On Feb 3, the university expressed strong objection to the candidate student union cabinet over remarks its members made in media interviews, according to the statement. It had also communicated with the students concerned and cautioned them that their remarks regarding national security matters might contravene the law. 

After Wednesday’s election, the university, which ranks 13th in Asia and 43rd in the world according to its website, said it would stop collecting fees on behalf of the union.

The Alumni Association of the Graduate Studies of the Chinese University of Hong Kong on Friday voiced support for the university’s decisions on the issue

It stressed that financial assistance for the affiliated organizations of the student union would not be affected. Support for student services that might be affected will be provided by the University Office of Student Affairs, according to the statement.

It would also require the student body to register as an independent society to assume legal responsibility for itself.

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Members of the union will be suspended from all other positions on university committees.

The university reiterated that it would not tolerate any behavior on campus that may endanger national security, adding that disciplinary actions, including expulsion from school, would be taken on any student who incites unlawful behavior. 

The Alumni Association of the Graduate Studies of the Chinese University of Hong Kong on Friday voiced support for the university’s decisions on the issue.

In a statement, the association condemned the remarks and acts of a small group of members of the CUHK Student Union Executive Committee, saying their untrue claims which are also suspected of violating the law tainted the university’s reputation.

“There is no land in the city beyond the law,” the statement reads.

The association also urged all CUHK students, faculty and alumni to firmly uphold the spirit of rule of law and express their own views in peaceful and rational ways.

Legislative Councilor and CUHK Council member Lau Kwok-fan said the university’s decisions were made to protect all students and faculty.

Freedom of speech is not absolute, Lau said, adding that students should comply with laws and regulations.

LegCo and CUHK Council member Alice Mak Mei-kuen said illegal acts are not tolerable on campus and the university has a responsibility to ensure all people there abide by the law. She said she hopes all students enjoy their university life and cautioned them against being misled by those who would use the campus as a political platform.

Council member Cheung Yu-yan urged students to cherish the opportunity to study at the university and not to defy the law and ruin their own future.