The prestigious university of HKU is in the middle of a bullying scandal involving its students, raising concerns over the culture in the school’s dorms.  

In the span of three days, two alarming incidents have come to light. On Wednesday night, a 19-second clip went viral online, showing a student pinned down on a bed by two others while another student used his penis to slap the victim in the face.

One of the attackers was wearing a hoodie with “Chemistry HKU” printed on it. 

According to local newspaper Ta Kung Pao, this incident happened in the Simon K.Y. Lee Hall. Students have protested, saying the video damaged the school’s reputation.  

Just two days before the video went out, the HKU campus newspaper Pok Fu Lam News reported a St. John College committee election candidate was attacked by 20 strangers. They broke into his room and dripped wax onto his genitals. The attackers said the school was a traditional institution and had higher standards for people running for student council posts. 

After the bullying cases spread online, a notice was sent to students prohibiting them from giving media interviews. The Beijing Youth Daily confirmed students received the notice, but it was not clear who sent it. 

In a Facebook post Thursday, the executive committee of the Simon Lee Hall Student Association said it had investigated the case, saying “relevant conduct raised no concern about bullying and this is a ‘one-off’ incident.”

The post went on to say students involved have been suspended, adding that their actions did not reflect the school’s culture. 

HKU said one of its vice presidents would set up a temporary committee to look into the events.  

Living space in and around HKU is scarce and expensive. Getting a room in one of its student halls is a competitive process, which gives student associations and executive committees made up of students plenty of power. 

Generally, high-profile students and those who are active in hall activities are allowed to stay. Hazing of freshmen and other newcomers is common.  

And because housing prices are expensive outside of these halls--where rooms go for one-sixth of market rates-- many students are willing or forced to go through the hazing.    

Reactions online are mixed. Wechat user @Pamelo argued that those who choose to stay in the hall were all well aware that this behavior was part of hall culture. Meanwhile @Xuwenyutian questioned whether these traditions should continue.