Hong Kong student expelled on eve of graduation after demanding fire probe

HONG KONG — The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has expelled a politics student who was previously detained by national security police after calling for an investigation into a deadly fire, the student said Thursday.

Miles Kwan was held for two nights last year on suspicion of "seditious intent" for distributing flyers that demanded an independent inquiry into a November 2025 fire that killed 168 people. CUHK launched a disciplinary review after his release on bail.

Kwan said the university cited his description of the disciplinary committee as a "kangaroo court" as a reason for his dismissal. The school also cited a 2023 "property damage" allegation involving stickers he posted to commemorate the Tiananmen Square massacre.

The student said he has already completed his academic program and was scheduled to graduate in March.

In a statement, CUHK said it does not comment on individual cases.

The expulsion of student activist Miles Kwan from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) serves as a stark barometer for the rapidly diminishing space for civil society and academic freedom in the territory. While CUHK officials have attributed the dismissal to disciplinary infractions—specifically Kwan’s conduct toward a university committee and a prior violation—the decision to sever his enrollment on the eve of graduation suggests a punitive measures far exceeding standard administrative protocols.

The underlying catalyst for this friction appears to be Kwan’s advocacy for government transparency following a fatal fire, a move that placed him in the crosshairs of the city’s security apparatus. His subsequent arrest by national security police on charges of "seditious intent" for distributing flyers underscores the administration’s heightened sensitivity to any form of grassroots organizing, even when focused on issues of public safety and corporate accountability.

Whether by design or through institutional pressure, CUHK’s actions transmit a chilling message to the student body: engaging in activism deemed a challenge to state authority carries severe, life-altering consequences for one’s academic and professional future. The case highlights a deepening institutional dilemma for Hong Kong’s elite universities. These schools must now navigate a precarious path between maintaining the international academic reputation necessary for global competitiveness and adhering to the increasingly rigid political "red lines" mandated by Beijing and local authorities.

The story of a young student facing punishment for demanding accountability strikes a powerful chord within the Vietnamese-American community. For many, particularly the elders who built lives in Little Saigon, such events evoke raw memories of the political suppression they once fled. This shared history fosters a deep-seated solidarity with pro-democracy activists and anyone facing retaliation for their beliefs. Whether they are long-settled families who arrived on F2B visas or the entrepreneurs fueling the nail salon industry and local phở restaurants, the diaspora views these modern-day struggles as a mirror of their own journey, bridging the gap between their heritage and their lived experience in America.