Schools should teach morality and other personal qualities, those attending a college's anniversary celebrations were told.
Secretary for Justice Elsie Leung Oi-sie said it was not enough to teach only knowledge.
She was speaking at the 35th Anniversary Speech Day of Cognitio College (Hong Kong) and Cognitio College (Kowloon).
Ms Leung said: 'Apart from passing knowledge on to students, schools should also convey the right concepts to them through a series of teaching activities, assemblies and extra-curricular activities.
'They should cultivate the ability to distinguish right from wrong, as well as independent thinking, and thus enable students to develop the right outlook on life.' Parents also should play an important role in promoting 'moral education', she told the audience at Hong Kong Cultural Centre.
'Sincere co-operation between school and family is a great help in cultivating the new generation to be good citizens,' Ms Leung said.
The Cognitio colleges have agreed to devote time to developing students' Emotional Quotient (EQ) - that is, their ability to cope with pressure and interact with others.
