Education officials defend controversial liberal studies subject after former Hong Kong leader blames it for encouraging violent protests by young people

Senior Education Bureau official says there is no proof subject causes students to take radical actions

Former chief executive Tung Chee-hwa had said subject was a failure and one of the reasons behind youth problems in the city

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Officials including Gordon Tsui (centre) and Wendy Au (second right) unveil the priority themes for the Quality Education Fund. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Published: 9:57pm, 4 Jul 2019Updated: 11:32pm, 4 Jul 2019

Hong Kong education officials have defended the controversial school subject liberal studies, saying it should not be blamed for violent protests over the extradition bill as a former leader had suggested.

“There is no proof that liberal studies causes students to take radical actions,” Wendy Au Wan-sze, principal assistant secretary for education, said on Thursday.

Former chief executive Tung Chee-hwa, now vice-chairman of China’s top political advisory body, had said on Wednesday the subject was a failure and one of the reasons behind youth problems in the city.

The curriculum, made compulsory for all upper secondary school pupils in 2009, aims to cultivate critical thinking and positive values through six modules, including Hong Kong today, modern China, and personal development and interpersonal relationships.

Protesters trash the Legislative Council on Monday. Photo: Winson Wong

Tung, commenting on the rampage at the Legislative Council on Monday by mostly young protesters, also said the authorities must look into the identities of those who stormed the building and prosecute them.