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International schools in Hong Kong
Hong KongEducation

Harrow Hong Kong drops ‘Amnesty International’ programme after parents raise concerns

  • The prestigious international school was going to offer students a chance to role-play activists in an event to be held this summer
  • Institution points to little student interest and pandemic for why it was axed, but initiative did not sit well with some parents

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Harrow International School Hong Kong, located in Tuen Mun. Photo: Winson Wong
Natalie WongandChan Ho-him

A prestigious international school in Hong Kong has decided to scrap a summer-term programme that allowed students to role-play human rights activists after parents expressed concerns.

Harrow International School Hong Kong, located in Tuen Mun, issued a notice to parents in early March promoting a series of activities for prep school students that included one called “Amnesty International” that “will give pupils the chance to become human rights activists”.

“Weekly activities will include writing messages of solidarity to refugees, appealing to government officials and heads of state, organising petitions or making awareness posters,” read a school notice dated March 9.

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Harrow, with 1,300 students, is the city’s only international boarding and day school. Photo: Winson Wong
Harrow, with 1,300 students, is the city’s only international boarding and day school. Photo: Winson Wong
It did not detail whether activities would touch on Amnesty International’s research reports related to the months-long anti-government protests that said police had arbitrarily arrested protesters or its online educational resources about freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly.
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Harrow’s head Ann Haydon told parents on March 21 the school was aware of concerns some parents raised over programme.

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