Daily Lessons from Life 08 September 2012 - Hong Kong backs down on China-backed education plan after protests

"Hong Kong backs down on China-backed education plan after protests - Reuters Sep 08, 2012

HONG KONG – The Hong Kong government said on Saturday schools did not have to adopt a China-backed curriculum from 2015 in an apparent backdown following protests by tens of thousands of people who described it as an attempt to brainwash students.

Parents, teachers and students have staged a week-long protest, claiming the curriculum amounts to Communist Party propaganda that glosses over the darker aspects of Chinese rule.

The decision comes on the eve of elections in Hong Kong, a former British territory handed back to China in 1997, that will see a legislature expanded from 60 to 70 seats, with just over half of them to be directly elected.

Hong Kong’s embattled new leader Leung Chun-ying called the move on the education plan a “major policy amendment”, saying he had heard and understood the public’s criticism.

The government noted the scheme had not been withdrawn and that schools could introduce it as they saw fit.


We don’t want the recent controversy to affect the operations of schools, nor do we want to see the harmony of the education environment to be affected (by the scheme),” said Leung.

The Beijing-backed Hong Kong leader has drawn criticism over a series of issues since he took office on July 1, including the national education programme, sky-high property prices and concerns about an influx of mainland Chinese visitors to the former British colony."

This is CLASSICAL Hong Kong politics! It will NOT happen in Singapore as Singaporeans are too afraid to rock the boat and go for something NEW, and for GOOD REASONS!!

It has not been tried and the older folks are NOT willing to risk it. At the same time, the newer generation and the new citizens may not have such 'burden'. So, maybe, just maybe, going against the authority to get something they feel strongly about MAY happen.

Lessons for me are:

1. Hong Kong people has enjoyed the freedom of expression for longer than Singaporeans. It has a critical mass and there are people who are passionate enough to stand up for the causes they feel strongly about. Even the Chinese authority has to bow to the masses. Enough of them can make the authority think harder about hard balling!;

2. While it is commendable, especially in this particular case where the National Education syllabus basically 're-write' some of the darker sides of recent Chinese history, especially about the 4th of June incident, it is also an unsustainable trend as more and more Mainland Chinese become new 'residents' of Hong Kong. Slowly but surely, the culture will change from one of questioning to one of compliance or else over time. When enough number of them become 'Hong Kongers'. Much like Singapore with the new citizens taking over from the 'old and older' locally born and bred citizens. Of course, the new citizens' adaption to the Singapore Way, if successful will not be a problem. If not, there will be problems.

3. Another point which I have picked up the other day is the 'controversial and drastic' measure by the Hong Kong government to impose the rule of 'Only for Hong Konger' properties in 2 development shows that EVEN the most capitalistic territory on earth acknowledged that sky rocketing housing price is NOT a good thing!! When the masses cannot afford to get one of the basic rights of a developed and prosperous Hong Kong, troubles brew!! Singapore beware?

May the Hong Kong spirit lives on and may Singaporeans slowly but surely pick up the 'challenging the norm' bit - bit by bit... or NOT!!