The University of Birmingham has emailed students on their year abroad in Hong Kong advising them to come back to the United Kingdom.

Many of Britain’s other top universities, including Warwick, Sheffield and Nottingham, are also recalling students studying or working in Hong Kong, with many universities offering to pay for the travel expenses.

This is in response to the recent outbreak of violent reactions by the police to protests that have been occurring since June. They started as peaceful rallies in opposition to contentious legislation which allowed for extradition to mainland China. The unpopular bill was withdrawn in September. However, there has since been a new set of demands from protestors, including increased democracy and an investigation into the alleged police brutality.

Protests and police retaliation have now spread to university campuses, and the police force have been widely criticised for their use of violence and brutality against the protestors. Students are fortifying university campuses as temporary base camps. This has sparked safety concerns, urging British universities to recall their students.

Redbrick spoke to Matt Rofe, a UoB student currently on a year abroad in Hong Kong, about his experience so far and what he is going to do. Rofe, a third-year Biological Sciences student, is studying at the City University of Hong Kong, located close to the centre of the city. He told Redbrick that he is ‘leaving the country on Wednesday [20 November] as [his] family back home are very concerned.’

‘I have absolutely loved it. It’s an incredible city with amazing people and I’ve loved every minute of my 3 months here.

‘Academically it’s been challenging as classes have been regularly cancelled/rescheduled but communication has been clear throughout and makeup classes etc have been organised right up until they decided they had to cancel the semester.’

Rofe went on to explain how during his time on his year abroad he has met some lifelong friends who he believes he has learnt a lot from and highlights his overall experience during his time away. He states: ‘The protests haven’t really affected my ability to enjoy the city and life here until the last few weeks, and the protests themselves are genuinely inspiring and really put other issues into perspective for me.’

Two anonymous UoB students currently studying in Hong Kong on their year abroad contacted Burn FM and described their experience living on university campuses in Hong Kong. One recalled that their friends at Chinese University of Hong Kong ‘got an email from their university administrators saying that the police have obtained the right to enter the premises and that the university can no longer guarantee student’s safety on campus.’

Another student outlined to Burn FM how international students studying at Hong Kong ‘are constantly advised to stay away’ and were discouraged from joining in the protests. Both students highlighted to Burn FM that no UoB students are at risk. 

Speaking to Redbrick, a spokesperson for the University of Birmingham said:

‘The welfare of our students remains our utmost concern and we have been closely monitoring the developing situation in Hong Kong, which has led to many Universities in Hong Kong suspending their operations.

‘We have today contacted all our students to advise them of their options and offer them the opportunity to return home with the University’s support.’