Library Abuse - 20090909

When there is a suspected notebook theft case occurs inside the CityU library, security guards will request readers to open their bags for search. The practice is outrageous.

Even police officers could only conduct search if the target is of "suspicious manner" (http://www.hklii.org/hk/legis/en/ord/232/s54.html). However, inside the university library, most of the normal readers, assumed to be educated, could hardly be described as "suspicious". Unfortunately, once you carry a bag, security guards would request for search to each and every one of us indiscriminately. In addition, those persons conducting the search are only security guards, their authority is highly dubious. Thus, I would conclude the one thing which is of "suspicious manner", is the conduction of search itself.

It is unacceptable for such thing to be happened repeatedly in an university's library. Even worse, CityU have their own law faculty. How could such prima facie human right abuse be neglected then? I have at least experienced that kind of search three times. It would be very unlikely that all of the teaching staff and students from the law faculty are ignorant to this practice. But still, it seems to be approvingly tolerated.

It is a common sense that every body should keep an eye on their own personal belongings, especially the valuable ones. Others bear no responsibility to their property loss. It would be unfair for most of us to suffer from subsequent security guards' harassment. We readers have the legitimate expectation of peaceful enjoyment of the library. So please stop this search practice at once.