Hong Kong universities to step up oversight of orientation camps following incidents of alleged sexual assault

Hong Kong Free Press

Hong Kong’s universities will review extracurricular orientation activities and implement measures aimed at enhancing “moral education,” after two men were arrested over alleged sexual harassment at induction camps for two separate institutions.

In a Legislative Council paper published on Tuesday, the Education Bureau (EDB) said it had collected information from the city’s eight public universities on their existing policies relating to the student-led orientation activities and their plans to enhance the management of such events.

“As individual incidents of the orientation activities of the current academic year have given rise to wide concern in society, many universities have indicated that they will review the management of the orientation activities and put forward improvement measures,” the EDB wrote.

Two men were arrested in late August and early September over separate allegations of sexual assault at orientation camps for students at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and the Education University of Hong Kong (EduHK).

According to the legislative document, City University of Hong Kong will require students to complete “online tutorials on preventing sexual harassment” every year. The university will also seek feedback from students that joined orientation activities.

city university students — The City University of Hong Kong. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

The EduHK and Hong Kong Polytechnic University said they had set up, or planned to introduce, committees to enhance monitoring of orientation camps. In particular, EduHK said it would introduce mandatory training on “safety, diversity and equal opportunity, sexual harassment, and moral behaviours” for student organisers and participants ahead of orientation camps.

HKU said only that it “regularly reviews” policies relating to student-led activities.

“Regarding moral education, HKU will remain sensitive to the needs and expectations of the changing societal landscape and [be] swift in making necessary and appropriate updates to our policies and curricula that are most beneficial to our students,” the paper read.

legco building legislature lawmaker legislative council — The Legislative Council. Photo: Peter Lee/HKFP.

Lawmakers will discuss the matter at a Panel of Education meeting on Friday.

Orientation camp arrests

Orientation camps, typically referred to as “o camps” and organised by student clubs, are widely attended by first-year university students ahead of the start of term. Many are overnight camps where students sleep in campus dormitories. The camps are led by students rather than university staff.

Last month, police launched an investigation after allegations of sexual harassment at a three-day camp for HKU’s nursing society surfaced. An 20-year-old student from the university was arrested on suspicion of indecent assault.

Less than a week later, police arrested a 28-year-old man who attended six orientation camps for EduHK students in July and August. At least four women came forward to accuse him of sexual assault, police said.

HKU University of Hong Kong — The University of Hong Kong. Photo: Kelly Ho/HKFP.

He was suspected of rape, indecent assault and voyeurism. Police said he had previously been arrested over a suspected sexual harassment incident that was not related to orientation camps.

The 20-year-old was charged with two counts of indecent assault, and was granted bail on conditions that he does not leave Hong Kong and report to the police station twice a week.

The 28-year-old was charged with one count of voyeurism and two counts of indecent assault. He was denied bail and was placed on remand.

Often seen as a rite of passage for university students, orientation camps have come under criticism before, with accusations that they involve older students humiliating and bullying younger students.

💡If you are suffering from sexual or domestic violence, regardless of your age or gender, contact the police, Harmony House (click for details) and/or the Social Welfare Department on 28948896. Dial 999 in emergencies.

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