London Daily

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

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.

Yeung told mainland Chinese news outlet Shanghai Observer last Saturday that the government had the power to disqualify principals who were deemed unsuitable for their jobs.

“A few years ago, I thought Yeung had a conscience, but [that] interview shows he has betrayed teachers,” Sugar said, adding that she believed the minister could no longer represent the majority of teachers’ voices.

“As a member of the education sector, we should stand up and speak out.”

Another secondary schoolteacher surnamed Yuen, in his 40s, who has taught science for more than 20 years, said he believed the Education Bureau was “threatening principals” when it said they could be removed from their positions if they did not cooperate with investigations on teachers.

“When there were previous cases of principals abusing their power, the [bureau] had not said they would use their powers to suspend the principals. But now when there were no such cases of principals not cooperating with the bureau’s investigation, the bureau has mentioned that power,” he said.

A fourth-year university student, 23, surnamed Chan, said she wanted to “thank teachers” for their hard work and show support for them at Friday’s rally.

“The government has been trying to suppress their voices. Teachers should be able to freely express themselves when they are not at work – including going to protests or making comments on social media – as they are also human and are entitled to freedom of speech,” she said.

Hong Kong has been rocked by protests for more than seven months. Sparked by the now-withdrawn extradition bill which would have allowed for the transfer of suspects to mainland China for trial, the campaign has since morphed into a wider call for an investigation into police conduct and universal suffrage, among other demands.

So far, 80 teachers and teaching assistants have been arrested in connection with the protests, and the bureau has received 123 protest-related complaints against educators, with wrongdoing confirmed in 13 cases.

Some of the complaints centred on online comments made by teachers.

The union accused the bureau of not giving teachers a chance to defend themselves against the charges before being notified that their cases had been substantiated.

Union president Fung Wai-wah previously said the bureau was “spreading white terror” and the government was blaming teachers for encouraging students to take to the streets.

The bureau hit back in a written statement on Thursday night, accusing the union of a loss of professionalism.

“The bureau has repeatedly explained the complaints process, but the union continues to twist facts and spread worry among teachers. It seems to be the one that is actually inciting white terror,” the statement read.

On Friday morning, Yeung said the bureau had found the response from principals “very positive” so far in terms of fulfilling their duties to investigate complaints.

“At present we have not been carrying out any investigations against principals on this particular matter,” he said.
The organiser estimated about 20,000 participated in the rally. Police put the number at about 2,500.

A police spokesman said officers seized about a dozen petrol bombs in large plant pots at Chater Garden in Central after a tip-off at around 4pm on Friday. A source said a total of 18 bottles of petrol bombs were found and did not rule out that they could be linked to the evening’s mass assembly.

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
×