London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

Hong Kong teacher removed for 'unlawful' lesson

Hong Kong teacher removed for 'unlawful' lesson

A Hong Kong teacher's licence has been removed after being accused of promoting the territory's independence in the classroom.

Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam said it was important to weed out "bad apples" from the education system.

Officials in Beijing believe schools have been helping to foment opposition to China's communist party.

Hong Kong's largest teachers' union has accused Hong Kong authorities of conducting an unfair investigation.

Rights group Amnesty International said the sacking sent an ominous message to teachers in Hong Kong about the discussion of politics in schools.

But Ms Lam insisted that the teacher's removal was the result of a "thorough" probe.

"This is a very serious case," she added. "We do not allow independence and other unlawful ideas to creep onto campuses."

Activists and observers fear that freedom of expression in public life and academia is on the decline in Hong Kong following the introduction of a controversial new law.

In July books by pro-democracy figures were removed from public libraries and a leading university fired law professor Benny Tai over a criminal conviction for his role in the 2014 pro-democracy protests.

This latest development marks the first time that the territory's education bureau has removed a teacher's licence due to classroom content.

Under the controversial national security law, passed in June, it is illegal to advocate for Hong Kong's independence. The teacher's misconduct happened before the law was in force, but the education bureau said it was still in violation of the Basic Law - the territory's mini-constitution.



According to local media, concern was raised after the teacher showed students a TV documentary featuring pro-independence activist Andy Chan Ho-tin. Pupils were then asked to answer four questions from a worksheet about freedom of speech and proposals for Hong Kong's independence.

A father of one child in the teacher's class told RTHK radio that he had read the worksheet and found nothing advocating for independence.

"If our kids in Hong Kong are not equipped with critical-thinking skills, I'm afraid there will be more education problems in the future," he said.

Another father, however, told RTHK that he believes teachers should be disqualified if they can't teach their students using proper materials.

The Alliance Primary School, where the teacher was based, has said in a statement that it would do its best to ensure the campus remains "politically neutral" and provide students with appropriate education.


In 2019, there were months of anti-Beijing protests


It comes soon after former city leader CY Leung accused Hong Kong's education minister of "evading responsibilities" while handling complaints against teachers in relation to anti-government protests.

Mr Leung has applied for a judicial review to force the education bureau to release the names of teachers found guilty of misconduct.

Hong Kong's new national security law has been widely criticised since it was imposed by Beijing in June after months of huge pro-democracy protests last year.

The law criminalises secession, subversion, and collusion with foreign forces.

Opponents, including the UN, say it breaches international law and erodes basic freedoms in the former British colony. But Beijing has said the legislation is needed to tackle unrest and instability.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×