Hong Kong chief CY Leung doubles down on independence talk in classrooms

Chief executive says there is little to no room for discussion of topic on campus as city is ‘clearly an inalienable part of China’

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Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying speaking to the press before the Exco meeting. Photo: Edward Wong

Published: 11:30am, 23 Aug 2016Updated: 11:22pm, 23 Aug 2016

Comparing how foul language is treated in schools versus in public, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying pointed out that school rules were stricter than society’s laws as he weighed in once more on the debate over independence talk on campuses.

There was little, if any, room for discussing Hong Kong’s independence in schools because the city is “clearly an inalienable part of China”, Leung said on Tuesday morning.

He also reiterated that promoting the city’s separation from mainland China was “absolutely not a matter of free speech”.

Leung was speaking as politicians, educators, students and parents continue to argue over how teachers could handle independence discussions in schools without losing their jobs.

Student activists have set up at least 21 localist groups in schools to discuss independence for Hong Kong.

On Monday, executive councillor Fanny Law Fan Chiu-fun waded into the debate by saying independence talk was “too complicated” for school campuses, and pro-independence political groups should be banned from schools.

Speaking before the Executive Council’s weekly meeting, Leung said: “School rules are stricter than laws in the society. For example ... you won’t go to court for using foul language, but a student can be kicked out of school for swearing and ignoring warnings for him to stop.”

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