The university Senate’s disciplinary appeals committee has reduced a serious misconduct penalty against undergraduate Drew Pavlou

Mr Pavlou is a fierce critic of the university’s connections with the Chinese Government.

The previous penalty was two-years suspension, now reduced to one semester. Two of a said to be 11 allegations against Mr Pavlou are upheld.

“Neither of the findings of serious misconduct concerned Mr Pavlou’s personal or political views about China or Hong Kong,” the university stated last night, adding “this should finally put to rest false allegations that the university process was an attack on freedom of speech.”

This does not seem likely, with Mr Pavlou rejecting the committee’s conclusions and looking to the courts for vindication.