A minor row over the right to use the bathroom at a Beijing university has exposed the divisions between Hong Kong and Chinese students.

In an online post dated Dec. 23, a student at the China University of Political Science and Law accused the school of giving special treatment to people from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and foreign countries. The non-local students were treated as a “privileged class,” the author said.

The author said she lived in a dormitory for mainland Chinese students at the university, which was equipped with shared bathrooms. On Dec. 22, she and her friend were given permission to use a private bathroom on a separate floor which was reserved for non-local students.

After using the bathroom, she was accosted by a member of the Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan student community, and received a stern warning from the teacher in charge of the dormitories.

The author said she felt wronged and questioned why non-local students were given preferential treatment. She also complained about the teacher, who allegedly described her as an “outsider” using up resources reserved for students living on that floor.

The university said the teacher involved has apologized, and promised to allow mainland Chinese students to use the private bathroom at designated times.

In a notice, the university also said that the teacher was disciplined for “inappropriate speech and management” and pledged to improve the school’s service and management.

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