Some places are strict, while some are more relaxed.
Even the way meals are prepared here can be different. However, EdUHK has a cart on campus that provides vegetarian, vegan and Halal options for the many students on campus who follow these ways of eating. A teacher even petitioned to make EdUHK one of the first meat-free college campuses. Nothing has happened yet, though, as meat is a big part of the lifestyle in Hong Kong because meat is easier to produce than vegetables and fruits. The leader of the school also recognizes that others have different lifestyles and some people need to eat meat to keep their iron levels up. Everyone at the meeting about making the campus meat-free was very kind and willing to acknowledge the different ways people live.
A more difficult topic to talk about is the protests that are happening in Hong Kong at this very moment. Protests, which take place when people strongly disagree with an event that has happened or might happen, can be either peaceful or violent. There are many elements to the protests here in Hong Kong, but one of the biggest issues that is causing these protests is whether Hong Kong should remain a part of mainland China or become an independent country. Being at an international university, it is very hard to avoid talking about the protests, and some of my students talk to me about what life is like in different areas of Hong Kong right now and the struggles they are facing. School was shut down for two days so that the students wouldn't have to worry about traveling to campus, as the streets have been very crowded and traffic could not move.
