After the implementation of Hong Kong’s National Security Law, the culture of whistle-blowing is now spreading to schools. So far last year, at least three teachers have been anonymously complained against for “social unrest” and had their teacher registration cancelled by the Education Bureau for “professional misconduct”. In addition, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam recently called on parents and teachers to report so-called “delinquent youths”. The white terror is pervading Hong Kong’s campuses, and the purge extends to students, with the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong taking action.
Since the “Hong Kong National Security Law” came into effect, the school sector has become a trend of reporting. As of December last year, the Education Bureau said it had received 269 complaints of professional misconduct by teachers related to “social unrest,” and more than 60% of the complaints were substantiated. Of the 160 substantiated complaints, three teachers were disqualified from teacher registration. The authorities also sent letters of reprimand and written warnings to the remaining teachers, warning that if the teachers concerned committed misconduct again, they would be considered for cancellation of their teacher registration.
In the substantiated cases, many teachers were “anonymously” complained about, but some teachers were also complained about by students. Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam recently talked about acts that endanger national security, “calling on parents, principals, teachers and even pastors” to carefully observe the behavior of young people around them and report violations.
Political censorship of high school students singing pop songs spreads to universities
When reporting becomes the trend, many schools begin to self-censor. Hong Kong media reported on Wednesday (7) that two Form 5 students had planned to perform Dear Jane’s “Galaxy Repairman” in the school’s singing competition. However, the school authorities believe that the words “chaos” and “confrontation” in the lyrics contain political meaning, and only allowed the two to sing a version of the lyrics changed “epidemic cheer”. The two did not comply with the school’s request and performed the original version of “Galaxy Repairman”. One of them said “Go Hong Kong People” at the end of the performance, and was later given a major demerit by the school, which may affect their chances of applying to universities.
The culture of reporting and self-censorship also extends from primary and secondary schools to tertiary institutions. The University of Hong Kong Students’ Union recently passed a motion to mourn the death of Leung Kin-fai in the 7.1 police stabbing case, “deeply saddened” by his death. The University Council Chairman Li Kwok-zhang said in an interview with the South China Morning Post that he “welcomes” the investigation by the State Security Department. He also said that the university will review whether to expel the students involved. Less than 24 hours apart, the University of Hong Kong Student Union announced the resignation of the officers with immediate effect, withdrew the motion on Leung Kin-fai, and expressed regret.
Former student union president of CUHK: horrible practice
This is not the first time a student union in Hong Kong has resigned, in February this year, the Chinese University of Hong Kong Student Union officers will be elected to the cabinet “Sakuya”, the university administration to administrative measures to deprive students of representative status, and finally the cabinet resigned.
The former president of the Chinese University Student Union Lin Rui gaze Friday (9) interviewed by this station, he described the scope of student autonomy has risen to the level of political wrestling, worried that the situation is gradually becoming worse, although I do not know whether Li Guozhang actually “invited” or “welcome” the State Security Department to investigate students But described Lee’s approach “horrible”, is an unprecedented high-profile, worried about the opening of a new milestone of “national security autonomy”.
I would describe it as horrible. Why would I be threatened by the top management of the university when I just want to care about current affairs and express my opinion? I think the whole thing is unbelievable, it’s no longer the freedom of expression that we know from the university and the academic world.”
Worried about the growing culture of reporting on campus
Lin Ruiyuan also said that the handling of the incident by the HKU campus is different from that of CUHK. At that time, the attitude of the CUHK campus felt like it wanted to make a big deal out of it; on the contrary, HKU wanted the student organizations to give in and handle it in a high profile. He is worried that the management of the eight universities are forced to get closer and closer to the regime, and the campus reporting culture will become more and more serious in the future.
The next thing I worry about is whether the culture of reporting will become more and more powerful. It’s obvious that this will gradually become the main theme of Hong Kong under this regime. For example, on university campuses, will the professors report when students do something? The next primary and secondary schools will add some surveillance TV, monitoring teachers and students’ every move?”
Ip Kin-yuen: reporting should not be the primary way to consider
The convener of the “University of Hong Kong Alumni Concern Group” and the vice president of the Association of Education, Mr. Ip Kin-yuen, told the station that except for extreme cases, reporting should not be the primary way to consider. If teachers are quick to report, it will cause a great deal of distrust between teachers and students.
Ye Jianyuan: “There are many different ways, such as providing support, education, referral services, or finding other experts to assist, etc. It would not be the first time to jump to reporting. In this process, I think we have to love and assist the growth of students.”
The station inquired with the University as to whether the University will still be disciplined by the University or followed up by the National Security Office after the resignation of the University’s student union officers. The University said it had no response to this.
The eight UGC-funded universities’ councils or university committee chairmen issued a joint statement Friday, saying that Hong Kong has recently seen a spate of incidents involving serious violence and terrorist activities, strongly condemning the incitement of hatred, glorification of violence, speech and behavior, calling on all parties to immediately stop the relevant speech and behavior, to establish the correct values.
The eight people who signed the joint statement were Wong Ka-chun, chairman of the Council of the City University of Hong Kong, Chen Zhenren, chairman of the Council of the Hong Kong Baptist University, Yao Zuhui, chairman of the Council of Lingnan University, Leung Nai-pang, chairman of the Council of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Wong Yau-ka, chairman of the Council of the Hong Kong University of Education, Lam Tai-fai, chairman of the Council of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Liao Cheung-sing, chairman of the Council of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Li Kwok-cheung, chairman of the Council of the University of Hong Kong.
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