Thousands of teachers and supporters stage rally in Hong Kong against government’s handling of protest-related complaints on educators
- Move comes as war of words rages between the Professional Teachers’ Union and the Education Bureau over which side is instigating ‘white terror’
- Authorities accused of not letting teachers defend themselves against complaints
Thousands of teachers and their supporters in Hong Kong have gathered at Edinburgh Place in Central in a rally against the government over its handling of complaints involving educators accused of protest-related misconduct.
Many in the crowd on Friday wore masks as students, university lecturers, pro-democracy lawmakers also came to show support. They chanted slogans including “Say no to white terror” and “Educators, unite as one”.
The move came as a war of words raged between the Professional Teachers’ Union, which represents about 85 per cent of teachers in the city, and the Education Bureau. Both sides have been trading barbs since December over the treatment of teachers in cases linked to the anti-government movement.
A secondary schoolteacher, 50, who used a pseudonym of Sugar, said she felt “angry” about the vast number of teachers facing complaints and suspension in recent months, especially cases where teachers had only expressed their personal views on social media.
Sugar, who has taught Chinese for more than 28 years, also said she felt “disappointed” at Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung Yun-hung and accused the bureau of “scapegoating” teachers and schools.