Unvaccinated, untested face HKUST campus ban

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) said on Monday that students, staff and visitors who fail to comply with their Covid-19 vaccination and testing requirements will be barred from entering the campus from September 1.

In an email to its students and staff, the university said the requirements will apply to everyone who visits the campus regularly, including those who live in university dorms, regular visitors, and contract staff providing regular service within the campus.

Staff and students will need to upload their vaccination or testing record to an online system in order to receive an electronic ‘Campus Access Pass’.

Those who aren’t vaccinated will need to get tested every two weeks to renew their access pass. Vaccinated staff and students will get an entry pass that expires at the end of this year.

Two reminders will be sent out, but those who fail to present a vaccination or testing record on time will be barred from entering campus or other university facilities with access controls, such as the library or sports facilities.

The university says while it will not de-register a student if they do not comply with the requirement, their studies will nevertheless be affected as they won’t be able to attend face-to-face classes or other academic activities.

HKUST says it will review its arrangement based on the latest pandemic situation and announce its latest plan by the end of this year.

The university had hinted at limiting campus access back in May, when it “encouraged” students and staff to be vaccinated against Covid-19 so normal teaching could resume in September.

It said at the time that those who couldn’t be vaccinated would need to submit to regular testing, but stopped short of spelling out what consequences there would be – if any – for refusing to do so.