London School of Economics ‘concerned’ for its student Alex Chow after Hong Kong activist jailed
Prestigious British university stands ready to ‘provide all the support we can’ for democracy campaigner, who is studying for a master’s degree
The London School of Economics has reached out to Hong Kong authorities to check on the well-being of its student Alex Chow Yong-kang – currently serving time in a local jail for storming the government’s headquarters before the 2014 Occupy protests kicked off.
Chow, 27, is studying for a master’s degree with the prestigious British university, but is serving a seven-month sentence for inciting others to take part in an unlawful assembly in September 2014. The illegal demonstration became a prelude to the 79-day Occupy pro-democracy sit-ins, which began two days later and shut down large parts of the city.
On Thursday the university released a statement saying a number of concerns had been raised by staff and students over his imprisonment.
Will the protest movement in Hong Kong be tamed by the jailing of Occupy trio?
“We are naturally concerned for him and have contacted the UK government and the Hong Kong authorities to understand his situation and seek reassurances over his well-being,” the statement, from the school’s management committee, said.
“We will provide all the support we can to ensure he can complete his studies at LSE as soon as he is able to.”
The statement said Chow had made a “highly positive contribution” during his time at the university, and was very well regarded by professors and fellow students.
Chow was also due to start studying for a doctorate at the University of California, Berkeley in August, before he was jailed.
