Regina Ip pledges to allow discussion of Hong Kong independence in schools, defend academic freedom

Contender for city’s top job also promises to support local athletes over mainland Chinese sportsmen

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Chief executive contender Regina Ip speaks on a Commercial Radio programme. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Published: 11:30am, 16 Dec 2016Updated: 11:09pm, 16 Dec 2016

Chief executive contender Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee pledged on Friday to defend academic freedom and allow students to discuss Hong Kong independence in schools, an approach contrasting sharply with that of the city’s current leader who considers it a taboo subject.

Ip, a lawmaker and former security minister, also said she would support Hong Kong athletes when they were competing against their mainland counterparts, unlike Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying who was criticised for not siding with the home team during the soccer World Cup qualifiers last year.

Ip raised eyebrows on Thursday when, launching her campaign for the city’s top job, she announced her intention to revive two of Hong Kong’s most contentious political issues – democratic reform under Beijing’s rigid framework and national security legislation.

Watch: Regina Ip announces chief executive run

On a radio programme on Friday, Ip said both goals should be “handled together” because they were difficult to achieve.

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