Education University (EdUHK) has apologised after CCTV footage was leaked of two individuals suspected to have posted messages teasing a government official over her son’s death.
The eldest son of Education Undersecretary Choi Yuk-lin died after falling from a Tsim Sha Tsui flat on Thursday morning. Signs bearing the slogan “Congratulations Choi Yuk-lin’s son on going west” subsequently appeared on the campus’s Democracy Wall, on top of banners supporting freedom of expression and Hong Kong independence.
EdUHK President Stephen Cheung said on Friday morning that the school was using CCTV footage to identify the responsible parties. He said that the university would follow strict procedures in using the technology owing to privacy laws.
A few hours after Cheung’s statement, CCTV footage leaked online of two men sticking up pieces of paper on the campus’s Democracy Wall at 5:03pm on Thursday afternoon.
One man wore a black t-shirt and long trousers and carried a backpack, according to Oriental Daily. The other man wore glasses, a white t-shirt and a dark-coloured jumper. He also carried a bag and his phone.
The two individuals appeared to be around 20 years old, but it remains unclear whether they are students at EdUHK.
EdUHK said that it strongly regretted the leaked footage, and that it would notify the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data of the incident, according to RTHK. It urged media outlets to stop sharing the images in order to protect the involved parties’ privacy, and to give school authorities the space to undertake its own investigation.
EdUHK said that CCTV footage collected at the university was used only for internal security purposes.
If you are experiencing negative feelings, please call: The Samaritans 2896 0000 (24-hour, multilingual), Suicide Prevention Centre 2382 0000 or the Social Welfare Department 2343 2255. The Hong Kong Society of Counselling and Psychology provides a WhatsApp hotline in English and Chinese: 6218 1084. See also: HKFP’s comprehensive guide to mental health services in Hong Kong
