Young people not a problem and most have protested in peaceful and reasonable manner, Hong Kong education minister says
- Kevin Yeung says city’s youth care about society and pledges to help government communicate better with students
- Education chief also thinks liberal studies, blamed by former city leader for protests, instils ‘critical thinking and right values’ in young people
Hong Kong’s education chief has said the city’s young people are not a problem and that most peacefully expressed their concerns about society in recent protests.
Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung Yun-hung on Wednesday also pledged to help the government to communicate better with students, so officials could understand and consider young people’s needs and points of view when drawing up policy.
Young protesters have been at the forefront of recent demonstrations that forced the government to suspend its controversial extradition bill, which would have allowed the transfer of fugitives to jurisdictions with which Hong Kong lacks an agreement, including mainland China.
Though most protests have been peaceful, hundreds of demonstrators stormed the Legislative Council on the 22nd anniversary of the city’s handover to Chinese rule on July 1, with some breaking windows and daubing graffiti in the chamber.
Former Hong Kong leader Tung Chee-hwa said last week he was saddened by the violent protests and that teaching liberal studies at secondary schools as “one of the reasons behind the youth problems today”.