Pro-Beijing politicians form concern group to stop school bullying from escalating amid Hong Kong’s protest tensions

Organisers of School Bullying Concern Group worry political crisis could make children of police and mainland migrants vulnerable

Group plans to work with parents’ associations, organise talks and publish anti-bullying videos

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The organiser of the School Bullying Concern Group (L-R): Horace Cheung Connie Wong, Chan Wing-kee, Yeung Yiu-chung and Tam Mei-po. Photo: Nora Tam

Published: 9:50pm, 21 Aug 2019Updated: 10:55pm, 21 Aug 2019

Five pro-Beijing politicians have set up a group to fight school bullying amid concerns that Hong Kong’s political crisis could make the children of police officers and mainland migrants vulnerable to animosity in the classroom.

Chan Wing-kee, a former member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), is the convenor of the School Bullying Concern Group, which was established on Wednesday. He said bullying was a pressing problem and schools should “stay away from violence and hatred” so students could focus on learning.

Hong Kong has been rocked since early June by a wave of anti-government protests originating from a now-shelved extradition bill. Over that time, public anger has been directed at the government and police, and the city has been divided by fierce and even violent disputes.

Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan, a lawmaker and deputy convenor of the group, said he feared that bullying would escalate because the children of police officers would be easy targets when the new school term starts next month.

“We don’t want to respond only after a case has been reported. We want to prevent this from happening,” said Cheung, who cited an online message that encouraged people to publicise the personal details of police officers and their families.

We don’t want to respond only after a case has been reported. We want to prevent this from happening

Horace Cheung, lawmaker and deputy convenor of the group

Yeung Yiu-chung, a former delegate to the National People’s Congress and a deputy convenor of the group, said he worried that the children of migrants from the mainland would be stigmatised given the heightened Hong Kong-mainland tension.

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