Hong Kong lawmakers launch ‘blood-stained’ TSA paper protest over student suicide tragedies
Education secretary Eddie Ng is grilled in Legco over his bureau’s response to recent deaths
Furious lawmakers threw “blood-stained” exam papers for the much-criticised Territory-wide System Assessment at the education minister after Wednesday morning’s special Legislative Council session addressing recent suicides among young people, saying he had neglected the well-being of students.
Education chief Eddie Ng Hak-kim was grilled at the meeting over what lawmakers said was a lack of action by the Education Bureau to come up with concrete changes for an education system that was a source of stress and pressure for students, parents and teachers alike.
WATCH: Lawmakers trail Eddie Ng waving ‘blood-stained’ exam papers
More than 20 lawmakers questioned Ng, who responded with information he had delivered earlier in the day.
League of Social Democrats lawmaker “Long hair” Leung Kwok-hung and People Power’s Albert Chan Wai-yip and Ray Chan Chi-chuen called Ng a “heartless minister” as they followed him out of the chamber waving stacks of TSA exam papers, stained blood-red.
The three hurled the papers at the minister as he entered the government offices next door.
Legislators at the council meeting peppered Ng with criticism over what they said was inaction by the bureau in light of the recent tragedies, including failing to launch a review of the “over-competitive” education system and its role in increasing the stress felt by students.
The TSA for Primary Three children has been met with much criticism from schools and parents for creating an excessive amount of preparation in the form of drills.