A Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) student who launched a now-removed petition calling for government accountability following November’s deadly Tai Po fire has said he has been expelled.

Miles Kwan said in a social media post shortly after midnight on Friday that he was kicked out of CUHK after six years of study. [...]

Kwan was reportedly arrested by national security police on suspicion of sedition in late November after he distributed flyers calling for an independent probe into the Wang Fuk Court fire, which killed 168 people and displaced thousands. [...]

His petition called for government accountability, proper resettlement for residents, and a review of construction oversight. [...]

In a phone interview with HKFP on Friday, Kwan, a political science major, said that CUHK notified him of the expulsion on Thursday, on the grounds that he had committed “multiple acts of misconduct.” [...]

Kwan said he had completed all academic requirements and had expected to receive a confirmation of his graduation in March. However, he added that he had been mentally prepared for the prospect of expulsion following his arrest in November.

“What I didn’t expect was that the panel would cook up charges against me,” he said, adding that – while the panel was convened due to his arrest – the demerits were based on his conduct during the disciplinary procedure.

“The panel’s intention to punish me with further demerits was obvious. It was proactively seeking to expel me,” he said.

HKFP has reached out to CUHK for comment but did not receive a response by Friday’s deadline.