A multitude of students from the Chinese mainland are exiting Hong Kong to the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, as the conflict in Hong Kong, one of the world's financial centers, escalates.
This comes after a standoff at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) campus on Tuesday, as hundreds of protesters threw bricks, petrol bombs, launched arrows and fired a signal flare at police officers.
"The police and the CUHK have reached a consensus in search for a peaceful solution. However, the situation in CUHK continues to intensify," Hong Kong police said in the statement.
The unrest, now reaching universities, is driving a great number of students out of Hong Kong.
"I had to go see a therapist"
Universities in Hong Kong, including CUHK, Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), City University of Hong Kong, and Hong Kong Polytechnic University (UKPU), are switching to distance online teaching in hopes of ensuring the safety of their students.
"To be honest, we are not content with the idea of studying online. It is not as efficient as on-campus study. And we are so worried about the upcoming final examinations. Will we be able to finish our degrees as expected? Can we go back to the campus next term? Mainland Chinese students are anxious and concerned. I had to go see a therapist a few days ago," said a student to CGTN anonymously.
"I think studying online is doable. Our universities have provided this online platform where we are able to continue our studies… Some professors have joined us on WeChat, so that we can study and interact there," said a student from HKBU.
"Our credentials should be recognized after graduation"
What concerns these students, besides their daily studies, is whether their credentials will be recognized after graduation.
"The school should protect students' rights to study among others, and make sure that our credentials are recognized after graduation … There are some rumors on social media that if our future employers find out we studied in Hong Kong in 2019-2020, we might be declined offers … And I think this is outrageous," said a student from HKBU.
Students told CGTN that their schools have promised to reimburse each student with 1,000 Hong Kong dollars (128 U.S. dollars), depending on which departments they are enrolled in. Apart from that, the aforementioned universities have informed their students about providing them with a shuttle bus service to Shenzhen.
"I'm disappointed at what my university has been doing regarding how they deal with violence on campus. They don't allow the police to come into campus… What they do is compromising," said a student vehemently.
"I'd like to see the glass at half full because I believe Hong Kong is part of China. Even though it is chaotic, it's still part of China. I love Hong Kong, and it is still attractive to me for various reasons… The conflict is escalating these few days, so I'm considering going to Shenzhen for a short stay," another student told CGTN.
"Please don't come near to our neighborhood for an interview"
With the escalation of the Hong Kong unrest, and especially when it comes to the point that universities are forced to halt their on-campus education, fear and anguish brought by the conflict have reached the innermost circle of students.
"We don't want to be revealed because of the interview. Please don't come near to our neighborhood for the interview. We are so scared they may find out," said a student.
"Mainland Chinese students have developed the mentality of lowering our expectation here. We just want to survive. That's it. This is abnormal. I know it would take time for Hong Kong to tough it out. I'm not planning to stay here … I'll leave once I graduate," said another student.
The status quo is even more difficult for local Hong Kong students, as they, unlike the mainland Chinese students, do not have a place where they can flee.
"I feel I am like a rat crossing the street every single day. My classmates from the mainland have homes where they can return. But how about me? I've been studying and living here for so long. Leaving Hong Kong for the mainland, I end up with nothing," said a local Hong Kong student.
Starting with a now withdrawn "fugitive bill" in the summer of 2019, Hong Kong has been bogged down in the quagmire for about half a year, which has wreaked havoc on the city's economy, security, transportation, and now its higher education system.