University of Hong Kong student arrested over alleged indecent assault during nursing society orientation
Hong Kong Free Press
A male student at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) has been arrested on suspicion of indecent assault, days after allegations emerged online of sexual harassment and drug use at an orientation camp organised by a nursing student society.
Police apprehended a 20-year-old man in Yuen Long on Wednesday afternoon for suspected sexual assault on an 18-year-old woman during the event. He is currently detained pending investigation.
Police said in a statement on Thursday they launched a probe after accusations surfaced online. Some citizens also made reports to the police regarding suspected offences committed by some students during the orientation camp.
The university confirmed on Thursday that the arrestee was an HKU student. “The university is closely monitoring the situation and will handle this matter seriously,” it said.
The arrest came three days after HKU said it had instigated an investigation related to the orientation event organised by the nursing society last week. The internal probe stemmed from a Chinese-language Instagram post published last Saturday, with someone who identified as a first-year HKU nursing student saying there was sexual harassment and cannabis use during the three-day camp.
The nursing student, who did not identify their gender, alleged that a senior male student leading the newcomers touched them inappropriately. Similar incidents took place in other groups of students.
The student also said there was a “very pungent smell,” later found to be cannabis, during a disco at the orientation camp.
Police appealed to those who witnessed or had information on the alleged indecent assault to contact investigators.
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