Has political correctness become so trendy that even Hong Kong's education authorities have been carried away by the hype? In a circular issued to the heads of all secondary and primary schools last month, the Education Department advised them that all schools should ensure that students are 'imparted with updated and accurate information in the light of the change of sovereignty in 1997'.
'With the resumption of sovereignty of China over Hong Kong in 1997, it is inevitable that factual information such as terminologies and titles contained in existing textbooks or learning materials for various subjects . . . needs updating to reflect social and political changes that will take place, such as removal of expressions against the 'one country' principle.' Presumably, the department takes the circular as a perfectly innocent reminder to schools as Hong Kong moves closer to the handover. But teachers and school heads are not exactly happy with such a memo.
Sceptical chiefs and teachers are wondering whether the department has started to practise political correctness by interfering with what should be taught at schools.
They also query why the department only emphasises the 'one country' principle without mentioning the promise of 'two systems'.
Some teachers are understood to have been shocked when informed of the circular because traditionally the department does not screen the content of textbooks and teaching materials.
According to the teachers, all that education officials do is to check whether the textbooks include all topics and subjects outlined in the school syllabus. If the textbooks meet this requirement, the department will put them on the recommended textbook list.