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Hong Kong Basic Law
Hong KongEducation

After uproar, Hong Kong education minister clarifies Basic Law broadcast optional for schools

Official claims the reply slip was meant to get idea how many would participate

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Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung Yun-hung speaking at government headquarters in Tamar. Photo: Edward Wong
Peace Chiu

Hong Kong’s education minister clarified it was optional replying to an invitation to stream a live broadcast of a Basic Law seminar featuring a top Beijing official after the call drew criticism.

His comments came after pan-democrats feared the Education Bureau was exerting pressure on school operators and government schools to have their pupils watch the event and might brainwash their views on the Basic Law, the city’s mini-constitution.

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Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung Yun-hung on Thursday explained the reply slip was intended to give the bureau an idea of how many schools would participate in the programme and help with broadcast preparations.

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“But if a school feels it is already well prepared, it does not necessarily need to reply,” he said.

Schools and sponsoring bodies can make arrangements in accordance with their professional judgment
Ip Kin-yuen, education lawmaker

Yeung added that since experts would attend the event, pupils could first listen to their explanations and then ponder what was raised, or participate in discussions after receiving guidance from teachers.

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