Hong Kong students cautioned about independence debate as academic year begins
Two top city officials say discussion about city breaking away from China is unwarranted, but students maintain they have a right to freedom of speech
Two of Hong Kong’s top officials cautioned youngsters against independence talk on university campuses as classes resumed on Monday, saying that while the city enjoyed freedom of speech, debate about separatist ideas was pointless.
But at Chinese University, which saw clashes last year amid renewed calls for Hong Kong to break away from China, student leaders at an event to herald the start of a new academic year insisted they had a right to talk about sovereignty over the city.
Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung Yun-hung, who toured a primary school in the morning, said independence was not feasible and the discussion was therefore unnecessary. Schools should “follow up” if students insisted on discussing the topic, he said, without specifying what action teachers should take.
“There is no need to discuss or reaffirm one’s views on Hong Kong independence at university inauguration ceremonies,” Yeung said. “It is not an appropriate occasion.”
Separately, the city’s No 2 official Matthew Cheung Kin-chung said: “Hong Kong is a place with freedom of speech, but there is absolutely no space for Hong Kong independence.”