Hong Kong exam authority holds marathon meeting over whether to void controversial history question as sensitive issue crops up on another paper
- Authority locked in talks over whether to scrap question on Sino-Japanese relations, but no decision had been publicised as of Thursday night
- Sensitive issue re-emerges on another paper, leading some Diploma of Secondary Education candidates to fear more uncertainty
Thousands of Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) candidates sitting the Chinese history exam on Thursday were asked if they agreed with the stance taken by a propaganda poster released during the Japanese occupation of China, leading some students to brace themselves for a repeat of the controversy blighting the earlier assessment.
A source familiar with Hong Kong’s Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) told the South China Morning Post that Thursday’s meeting – the second held since Monday – involved a discussion over several hours that “touched on many different issues and considerations”.
No further details of the talks had been publicly released as of Thursday night.
On Monday, a six-hour meeting of the HKEAA council ended without a decision being reached over whether the question should be invalidated.
The Education Bureau issued a statement later on Monday night, reminding the statutory body of its duty to comply with directives issued by the chief executive.