• Unauthorized Stay (Multiple Occurrences)

A non-resident student was found to have stayed in the hall past visitor hours. During the investigation, the student provided explanations that were inconsistent with official records and was reminded that dishonesty is a severe offense. This incident follows histories of similar violations by the same student, leading to strict penalties for these repeated offenses. Although the student later submitted a follow-up email attempting to justify his presence on two specific dates, the Hall Office has reviewed and formally overturned these claims.

Disciplinary Record

N/A 

• Official Warning Letter.
• One-year entry suspension from all student halls.
• Disqualified from all hall applications for the subsequent academic year.

The student requests a reconsideration of the one-year entry suspension, asking for it to be shortened or modified. In his appeal, he explains that he was panicking and suffering from a severe physical illness at the time, which he claims clouded his judgment and memory, causing him to provide inconsistent explanations.

• Allowing a non-resident to remain on hall premises after official visitor hours
• Provision of false information during investigation

It was discovered that a resident hosted a registered guest who remained within the hall premises after the conclusion of official visitor hours. It is noted that during the investigation of the incident, the resident provided statements that conflicted with official records and was explicitly warned that any future dishonesty would lead to more severe penalties. This incident followed a prior formal warning issued to the residents for a separate violation.

Disciplinary Record

Warning Letter x 1

• Immediate termination of hall residency, with forfeiture of paid hall fees.
• Banned from entering all student halls for the rest of study at HKUST.
• Disqualified from all future hall applications.

The resident requests a reconsideration of the immediate termination of her residency, or, at a minimum, permission to remain in the hall until the end of the current summer semester.

• Vandalism of No Smoking Sign
• Burnt Toilet Seats

The student was found to have deliberately burned smoking notices at multiple staircases within the hall premises. Furthermore, one of the toilet seats in a male restroom were also intentionally damaged by fire. Upon formal inquiry, the student admitted to these acts of wrongdoing.

Disciplinary Record

N/A

• Ban from entering the residential hall where the incident occurred for a year.
• Disqualified from all hall applications for the subsequent academic year.

The resident has accepted the official warning and the one-year entry ban from the hall where the incident occurred, but requests clarification or favorable reconsideration regarding the disqualification of their hall applications for the subsequent academic year.

• Assisting a non-HKUST individual for Illegal Hall Entry
• Initial uncooperativeness and provision of false information during investigation

The resident was found to have assisted a non-HKUST individual (opposite gender) in entering the hall without authorization. The resident also invited this individual to her room during the early hours. During the investigation, the resident was initially uncooperative and provided false information. The resident subsequently admitted her misconduct and submitted a written statement, which the Residence Master considered to be truthful.

Disciplinary Record

N/A

• Immediate termination of hall residency, with forfeiture of paid hall fees.
• Prohibition from entering any student halls for a year.
• The case referred to the Hall Admissions and Selection Committee (HASC) for further deliberation which will not consider CHAN’s future hall application for the subsequent year.

Requests a reassessment of the decision, pointing out this is the first offence and expresses willingness to accept penalties other than termination.

Smoking and Triggering Fire Alarm

It was discovered that a resident (special needs student) was found smoking in his apartment, resulting in significant smoke and odor that triggered the fire alarm and caused a serious disturbance to the hall community. Despite the initial alarm, a second smoking incident occurred the following day. Of particular concern is the resident’s initial refusal to acknowledge responsibility for these safety breaches, only admitting to the actions after formal intervention by a hall officer.

Disciplinary Record

Warning Letter x 1

• Immediate termination of hall residency, with forfeiture of paid hall fees.

Requests a reassessment of the decision. Furthermore, in the event that the termination stands after review, the individual seeks a full refund of the paid hall fees for the remainder of the residential period.

Uphold the original penalties but permitting a refund for paid hall fee of the Semester.

Misuse of Student ID Card

It was discovered that a resident had lent his student ID card to a female student to facilitate her unauthorized entry into other hall via the turnstiles. Upon investigation, the resident refused to comply with security officers' requests to inspect his bedroom for the unauthorized visitor. During the ensuing confrontation, the student physically obstructed the officers, resulting in a minor injury to one of the guards before hall staff intervened to manage the scene.

• Immediate termination of Hall Tutor appointment.
• Immediate termination of hall place.

Requests a reassessment of the decision, pointing out his compliance and lack of awareness regarding the card misuse, hoping for a resolution that reflects the actual events.

Case referred back to Residence Master for further review.

Private Transfer of Hall Place

A hall resident allowed another non-resident to stay illegally in his room for an extended period. Both students were uncooperative and refused to acknowledge their wrongdoing.

• Immediate termination of hall place.
• Disqualified of hall application in the subsequent year for both students.

All individuals involved appealed for the removal of the termination of hall residency and the disqualification from future hall applications for the non-resident.

Uphold the original penalties.

Unauthorized Accommodation of Non-Resident

A hall resident provided her student card to a student from another hall to facilitate unauthorized overnight access, citing logistical convenience for travel to Shenzhen. The resident had previously received one formal warning for misconduct.

• Immediate termination of hall place.
• Disqualified of hall application in the subsequent year.

The individual involved requested cancellation of the termination penalty.

Following extensive deliberation, the majority vote upheld the original penalty. However, RM exercised discretionary authority to permit the student to remain until the end of Spring residency, contingent upon:

• Payment of a HK$500 fine.
• Submission of documentation verifying ongoing treatment for anxiety.
• A parental declaration regarding unemployment status.
• Completion of six hours of hall community service.

Late Check-Out for Guest Passes

A non-resident procured guest passes on two occasions. Contrary to regulations mandating checkout by 12:00 noon the following day, the student failed to comply with both instances. The student attributed one delay to oversleeping after checking typhoon updates and the other to a discharged mobile phone battery, which resulted in a missed alarm. Notably, the student had received two prior warning letters for similar infractions.

• Three-month ban from entering the designated hall.
• Disqualified of hall application in the subsequent year.

The individual involved appealed for the removal of the access ban.

Uphold the original penalties.

Misuse of Lifebuoys from Swimming Pool

A significant incident occurred involving multiple students. Two individuals were identified removing four lifebuoys from the university swimming pool during late-night hours. Concurrently, Security personnel observed a larger group engaging in high-risk aquatic activities at a nearby pier. Further investigations revealed that another subset of students had violated Hall access protocols by illicitly sharing student cards to facilitate unauthorized entry.

While the students acknowledged their misconduct, which encompassing safety violations, theft, and access breaches, penalties were applied proportionally based on individual involvement and prior disciplinary records.

• Immediate termination of hall place.
• Disqualified of hall application in the subsequent year.

All individuals involved requested the complete revocation of penalties.

Uphold the original penalties.

Unauthorized Room Swapping and Interference with AP Cable

During a routine room inspection, it was discovered that a resident had unilaterally relocated to another room without prior authorization. Additionally, the student admitted to deliberately tampering with the Access Point (AP) cable to circumvent air-conditioning payment protocols.

• Immediate termination of hall place.
• Ban from entering the original hall, including participation in the Visitor and Guest Pass Scheme and Summer Residences, for a duration of ten months.

Individuals involved requested the complete revocation of both penalties.

Uphold the original penalties.

A resident lent his HKUST card to a non-resident, allowing him unauthorized access to leave the hall without registering as a visitor. Both the resident and the visitor have a history of violating hall rules.

• Immediate termination of hall place (for the resident); 
• Disqualified of hall application in the subsequent year;
• Banned from entering all student halls for 1 year (for the visitor) 

Cancellation of the penalties.

Uphold the original penalties.

In the morning, a male resident was discovered sleeping with another female resident in his room. The resident acknowledged that he had allowed the female resident to stay overnight, and it is important to note that this is not the first instance of such behavior. The resident has a track record of violating hall rules.

• Immediate termination of hall place; 
• Disqualified of hall application in the subsequent year.

To extend the stay until the end of the Fall Term.

Uphold the original penalties.

A resident was apprehended for hosting an illegal visitor who stayed overnight in the hall. Both the resident and his visitor disregarded verbal warnings from hall attendants. The resident admitted to assisting the visitor in entering the hall and staying overnight without proper visitor registration. The resident has a track record of violating hall rules.

• Immediate termination of hall place; 
• Disqualified of hall application in the subsequent year.

Reversal of the hall termination penalty.

Uphold the original penalties.

Two residents were found tempering the air-conditioner meter in their corresponding student halls. 

• Immediate termination of hall place; 
• Banned from entering all halls for the rest of study at HKUST;
• Disqualified from future hall application.

Reversal of the hall termination penalty.

Extended their stay until the end of the fall term residential period to minimize additional hardship for the students before and during the exam period; All other penalties remained unchanged.