The protests, which have been going on for months now, against the Hong Kong government and Beijing’s growing influence have become increasingly violent. Among the demonstrators are many students who use their university as a base and barricade campus entrances. A student died last week, and another demonstrator got injured this week when he was shot at close range by a police officer.

Yesterday evening, Bea van de Ven, coordinator internationalization at Industrial Engineering, contacted the only two TU/e students currently staying in Hong Kong. Their academic year started at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, where they followed lectures for over four and a half months. The students were to return home before the turn of the year.

Urgent request

Because the unrest increases, they have now been urged to return home sooner. After they failed to reply to a mail from thecoordinator internationalization, Petri van de Vorst of the International Office of Education and Student Affairs decided to seek contact this morning via WhatsApp, after which she received an app message from the students informing her that they are safe. Their student room is not on campus, but in the city.

Most universities are bringing their students back home. The University of Amsterdam, Erasmus University Rotterdam (combined 131 students in Hong Kong), and TU Delft will also actively facilitate the return of their students. Students from Fontys and Tilburg University will also be advised to return home.

It is not yet known at this time what the two TU/e students will decide, or whether they witnessed any of the protests, road blocks and fights. As soon as we managed to contact the IE students, we will add that information.

The travel advice issued by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs comes down to: ‘Be careful.’