Hong Kong Federation of Students

The Hong Kong Federation of Students (Chinese: 香港專上學生聯會, HKFS) is a student organisation formed by the student unions of 7 higher institutions in Hong Kong, 3 of which have resolved to withdraw from the federation. The purpose of the HKFS is to promote student movements and to enhance students’ engagement in society.

It is currently led by Nathan Law Kwun-chung, the secretary-general of the federation.

The Council (代表會) is formed by the representatives from the student unions of the universities who are elected by university students. The standing committee is appointed by the Council.

History

Early years

The federation was founded in May 1958. Their purpose at that time was to promote students' participation in social affairs by representing students. There were originally four member university student unions, in its first term, the committee was made up of 7 students.

In the Senkaku Islands dispute, at the time of the transfer of the administration of the Senkaku/Diaoyutai Islands from the United States to Japan in 1971, some Hong Kong students established the Hong Kong Action Committee in Defence of Diaoyutai Islands (香港保衛釣魚台行動委員會) on 14 February. The committee held demonstrations in front of the Japanese consulate in Hong Kong this led to 21 people being arrested, 7 of whom were university students. On 17 April, the Hong Kong University Students' Union held a peaceful demonstration in which about 1000 students took part however on 7 July, the federation held a larger-scale demonstration. As the federation was still an illegal organization at that time, some students were arrested by the Royal Hong Kong Police. On 13 May 1975, the federation held its last protest on the issue.