Exclusive | Anglican leader says Hong Kong schools should not discuss independence unless pupils are told of likely ‘civil war’
Church’s provincial secretary general in city also thinks politically charged issue might be too sensitive now for university academics to research
The controversial topic of advocating Hong Kong’s independence from China should not be discussed in schools without telling pupils about the bloodshed it would likely unleash, according to a top leader of the local Anglican Church.
In an exclusive interview, Reverend Peter Koon Ho-ming, the church’s provincial secretary general, also said the issue might be too sensitive now for university academics to research the possibility.
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Koon is a senior priest for a religious institution that claims up to 40,00 followers in a city where the Protestant congregation is estimated to number 500,000. The Anglican Church, known locally as the Sheng Kung Hui, is especially influential in education, operating more than 130 schools and kindergartens.
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Koon, 51, said the saga revealed a “worrying” lack of compassion and empathy in Hong Kong.
It’s quite clear there would be civil war if we sought to separate from China
“The Bible teaches us that you should not treat others in a particular way if you don’t want them to treat you like that,” he said.
But, citing practicality, Koon disagreed.
“It cannot be disallowed because it’s a social topic. But they need to let students know what would happen,” he said. “It’s quite clear there would be civil war if we sought to separate from China.”
On whether university students and scholars should research the issue, he said: “If you do this at such a controversial time, people would feel you are intentionally [advocating it].
“This topic would deeply divide society. If it is purely for academic reasons, would it be better for them to talk about it if they studied abroad?”
Earlier this year, Koon was appointed a member of the civic education promotion committee and the Curriculum Development Council, which both advise the government on school curricula.
Koon hoped the committee could help promote respect as “qualities of Hong Kong citizens”, while he said the council could play a part in strengthening moral education in secondary schools.
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Universities should also boost their moral education, he added, as he questioned whether university management had done enough to “discipline” their students.
Koon agreed with Yeung’s view: “It’s quite embarrassing to talk about national education in secondary schools. Even children in primary schools or kindergarten should know that ... they need to respect a country.
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He clarified to the Post that all he wanted to say was that it was important for Hong Kong and Beijing to communicate with and trust each other.
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But after witnessing China’s social and economic progress over the last three decades, Koon believed it was better to embrace the country than to hate it.
