The University often receives queries on whether public remarks made by groups that bear the name of the University – such as the HKUST Students’ Union (HKUST SU) or ProgressUST (now defunct), represent the University's official view or position. The public is especially concerned with controversial remarks that advocate a certain political stance, or those that contain derisive or discriminatory comments against third parties.  

The following clarifications seek to clarify the relationship between these student groups with HKUST.

ProgressUST published controversial remarks from time to time, for example on Aug 25, 2019, the group posted a Facebook post proposing the expulsion of all PRC persons from Hong Kong, terminate PRC enterprises in Hong Kong, and build physical barriers to two-way traffic. The SU has also made controversial remarks via Facebook on other occasions. This included one statement whereby they proclaimed COVID-19 “Chinese pneumonia”, which was coupled with divisive and ungrounded remarks. The posts drew wide attention from the media, as well as concern and complaints from the HKUST community and the public. 

1. All HKUST members are expected to uphold the principle of mutual respect for diverging perspectives and opinions. Student groups affiliated with the University, regardless of whether they draw reference to the University in their names or not, are not to use discriminatory, hateful, insulting, and unlawful content in any form of communication. (Sept 23, 2019 statement)
2. The SU is not affiliated with the University but an unincorporated association registered under the Hong Kong Societies Ordinance. Its views DO NOT represent the University’s stance. In accordance with the SU’s constitution, the SU is expected to serve the interests of all student members of the University. The University has on different occasions (Dec 4, 2019 internal email) and (Mar 19, 2020 statement) reminded the SU to refrain from making any comments or publications that are ungrounded, or could potentially promote discrimination and stigmatization.
3. ProgressUST is a society completely unrelated with the University. It was once an affiliated group under the SU, but it has not renewed its annual registration nor submitted any required documents to the SU in recent years. The Society’s name and accounts are controlled by parties who are not students of the University. DSTO has raised its concerns with the Council of the SU regarding ProgressUST and was informed by the SU Council that they would suspend the society’s affiliation. 
4. The University has repeatedly denounced the remarks made by ProgressUST (Aug 26, 2019) and filed complaints to Facebook about messages posted on this society’s social media account. (Sep 27, 2019) As a result, Facebook has removed posts from ProgressUST's Facebook page which contained the offensive content.  
5. The University will take further action against ProgressUST in the future if necessary.

Relationship between HKUST SU and the University and its membership

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