Media Releases

PolyU Announces the Test Results on Campus Environment Assessment

To ensure a healthy and safe campus for its students and staff members, and to address the concerns about the potential hazards of tear gas residue remaining on its campus, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) appointed  independent accredited laboratories to collect environmental samples at various locations on campus (see Appendix I) in early December 2019 for testing, including air, water, soil and surface wipe samples. The testings cover analyses of several major chemical components in tear gas residue including dioxins, total cyanide, total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 2-Chlorobenzalmalononitrile (active ingredient of CS powder) in the samples collected on the campus. The University has received the results of all the tests on water, soil and surface wipe samples, as well as the test results for CS powder of air samples, while the remaining test results for the air samples are expected to be available in January 2020. The test results are benchmarked with the reference limits listed in the authoritative documents of relevant local or international authorities/institutions. According to the test results for soil (S1-8), tap water (WA1-4), and surface wipes (W1-22) samples, as well as the CS powder in air samples, all the aforementioned contaminants are well below their respective reference/reporting limits (see Appendix II). In addition, the University has also carried out safety assessments of the buildings on campus, including assessment of building structural safety, testing of indoor air quality, filter cleaning and a thorough cleanup of individual buildings. The University will do its utmost to ensure the campus meet relevant safety standards so as to offer PolyU members a healthy and safe environment for studying and working.

Campus Update IV – Campus Access Strictly Restricted, Campus Clean-up In Progress

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) today issued an email on " Campus Update IV – Campus Access Strictly Restricted, Campus Clean-up In Progress" to its students, staff and alumni. Please refer to the details in the attachment.

Campus Update III – PolyU resumed control of its campus

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) today issued an email on " Campus Update III – PolyU resumed control of its campus" to its students, staff and alumni. Please refer to the details in the attachment.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Statement

The Fire Services Department and other related Government departments finished their disposal of dangerous materials on the PolyU campus this morning, and the Police have also announced the removal of the cordon around the campus. After taking over the campus, the University management will immediately conduct an inventory inspection and launch comprehensive safety and environment assessments. The current environment on campus is still unsafe, and the work on clean-up, inventory inspection and restoration will take time. Campus access, therefore, continues to be strictly restricted to authorised persons only until further notice. In the meantime, the University strongly urges our students and staff members, as well as members of the public, NOT to enter the campus. We appreciate your understanding of this arrangement. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Dr LAM Tai-Fai, Council Chairman Professor Jin-Guang TENG, President Professor Philip C. H. CHAN, Deputy President and Provost Dr Miranda LOU, Executive Vice President Mr Andy TONG, Vice President (Campus Development and Facilities) Professor Alex WAI, Vice President (Research Development) Professor Ben YOUNG, Vice President (Student Affairs)

Statement by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (8:20pm)

It is understood that the conditions on the PolyU campus are more complex than expected, with facilities seriously vandalised and dangerous materials widely scattered. The Fire Services Department and other related Government departments have added manpower this afternoon to expedite the disposal of dangerous materials. It is expected that the cordon around the campus can be removed tomorrow. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Dr LAM Tai-Fai, Council ChairmanProfessor Jin-Guang TENG, PresidentProfessor Philip C. H. CHAN, Deputy President and ProvostDr Miranda LOU, Executive Vice PresidentMr Andy TONG, Vice President (Campus Development and Facilities)Professor Alex WAI, Vice President (Research Development)Professor Ben YOUNG, Vice President (Student Affairs)

Statement by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (4:00pm)

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has today sent the following requests to the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region: In view of the University's comprehensive search for people remaining on campus over these two days, the University suggests that the Police need not to conduct a similar search, but rather remove the cordon around our campus immediately. We request relevant Government departments help remove or make safe, as soon as possible, all dangerous materials on campus, including petrol bombs and other offensive weapons. In performing their duties, we urge the authorities to take a humane approach to ensure the personal safety of all concerned. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Dr LAM Tai-Fai, Council ChairmanProfessor Jin-Guang TENG, PresidentProfessor Philip C. H. CHAN, Deputy President and ProvostDr Miranda LOU, Executive Vice PresidentMr Andy TONG, Vice President (Campus Development and Facilities)Professor Alex WAI, Vice President (Research Development)Professor Ben YOUNG, Vice President (Student Affairs)

Statement by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (1:45pm)

PolyU resumed its search for the remaining people on campus at 9:30am this morning, following yesterday's endeavours. Manpower for the teams has been enhanced to 100, from about 50 yesterday, and comprises Vice Presidents, Faculty Deans, teachers, counsellors, healthcare professionals and social workers. Working in nine teams, they searched for remaining people and inspected the condition of and damage to various offices and laboratory facilities. Despite their greatest efforts in searching every floor and every room of all buildings, the teams cannot find any people remaining this morning. The search ended at noon today. Inspection onsite revealed that a great number of facilities on campus, including many laboratories, have been vandalised to various extents, and that some chemicals and dangerous goods are missing. A number of research projects will have to be halted, which will seriously affect the teaching and research of the University. Over the past two days, the University has done all it can to ensure that anyone remaining on campus could leave peacefully. The University requests the Police to remove the cordon around our campus immediately, so that we can start our restoration work at once. The University gratefully thanks all colleagues and collaborating partners who have participated in the search on campus. The University appeals to anyone who may still be remaining on campus, or their relatives or friends, to contact our team directly by calling 55136392. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Dr LAM Tai-Fai, Council Chairman Professor Jin-Guang TENG, President Professor Philip C. H. CHAN, Deputy President and Provost Dr Miranda LOU, Executive Vice President Mr Andy TONG, Vice President (Campus Development and Facilities) Professor Alex WAI, Vice President (Research Development) Professor Ben YOUNG, Vice President (Student Affairs)

Statement by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (1:00pm)

As at 1pm today, the six teams sent by PolyU to enter the campus have searched four buildings. No remaining people were found. But the team members found every floor to have been vandalised to a varied extent, with dangerous goods and petrol bombs lying around. The teams will continue their search. The University management advises all team members to take care of their personal safety. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Dr LAM Tai-Fai, Council Chairman Professor Jin-Guang TENG, President Professor Philip C. H. CHAN, Deputy President and Provost Dr Miranda LOU, Executive Vice President Mr Andy TONG, Vice President (Campus Development and Facilities) Professor Alex WAI, Vice President (Research Development) Professor Ben YOUNG, Vice President (Student Affairs)

Statement by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (10:00am)

PolyU sent six teams to enter the campus at 9:30am today. The teams comprised about 50 members include teachers, counsellors, healthcare professionals, social workers and security staff members. The hygiene conditions on campus this morning appear to have further deteriorated. The teams will search every floor of all buildings on campus for any remaining people. The University hopes to complete the search within today. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Dr LAM Tai-Fai, Council Chairman Professor Jin-Guang TENG, President Professor Philip C. H. CHAN, Deputy President and Provost Dr Miranda LOU, Executive Vice President Mr Andy TONG, Vice President (Campus Development and Facilities) Professor Alex WAI, Vice President (Research Development) Professor Ben YOUNG, Vice President (Student Affairs)

Statement by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (4:00pm)

PolyU has added one more team, bringing the total to seven, to continue the search for the remaining people on campus this afternoon. As at 4:00pm today, the teams have searched most of the buildings, including the Library and the carparks. They found a female adult, who appeared physically weak and emotionally unstable. The Hong Kong Red Cross first-aid team provided her with immediate onsite medical care, and PolyU counsellors are putting in great efforts to persuade her to leave the campus. During their search, the team members found that all buildings on campus have been vandalised to various extents. The Library is severely flooded. Many cars, including University vehicles, inside the carparks have been damaged, a number with the fuel tanks forced open. The teams also found dangerous goods and petrol bombs located inside buildings and in various other places on campus. Out of concern that there may be more people remaining on campus, the University management has decided to resume the search tomorrow morning, and will consider enhancing manpower for the task. The University sincerely thanks all the team members for their hard work. The University also appeals to people remaining on campus to contact our team directly by calling 55136392. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Dr LAM Tai-Fai, Council Chairman Professor Jin-Guang TENG, President Professor Philip C. H. CHAN, Deputy President and Provost Dr Miranda LOU, Executive Vice President Mr Andy TONG, Vice President (Campus Development and Facilities) Professor Alex WAI, Vice President (Research Development) Professor Ben YOUNG, Vice President (Student Affairs)