The University of Hong Kong student union will not leave the Federation of Students after a referendum on a split did not attract enough votes to make it valid.
Union president Lau Fong said only 9.78 per cent of union members voted in the referendum, short of the 10 per cent required for a valid result. The referendum was held from Tuesday to Friday, with nine voting booths at the university.
Of the 942 votes cast, 446 were in favour of withdrawing from the federation, 307 opposed the move and 189 were abstention votes.
Mr Lau said the union would not hold another referendum on the issue unless one was initiated by another group of students. The referendum was triggered by a petition started by former student union executive committee members who criticised the federation's operations and budget.
The union is a founding member of the federation, which was set up in 1958 and is the representative body for student unions at seven universities and colleges in Hong Kong.
Mr Lau said the number voting for withdrawal showed that students were aware of the federation's shortcomings.
