Academics and celebrities join Tamar protest against national education
Lecturers say national education should be shelved, and film guru joins hunger strike as rally gains momentum
The "Occupy Tamar" campaign against the introduction of national education has received a fresh wave of support from academics planning to boycott lectures, veteran activists and outspoken celebrities.
Riding on the movement's growing momentum, organisers are extending their campaign from the government headquarters in Admiralty to involve the whole city by urging supporters to wear black today.
And more schools have come under scrutiny from alumni about their plans for the subject.
More than 100 academics from universities and other tertiary institutions yesterday signed a joint statement in newspapers asking officials to shelve the Moral and National Education programme.
The government says the subject is intended to engender national pride, but critics say it is a brainwashing tool.
(SCMP video by Hedy Bok)
Some of the academics, including lecturers at the University of Hong Kong and Chinese University, said they were considering not giving lectures when term starts next week.