Sing ‘Glory to Hong Kong’ in school and you could be punished, Education Secretary says

Singing songs with political messages like popular protest tune “Glory to Hong Kong” at school could be a punishable act, the city’s Education Secretary Kevin Yeung said Thursday.

Speaking on a morning segment of Commercial Radio on Thursday morning, Yeung cited “Glory to Hong Kong” as an example of a “political propaganda song” and therefore should not be allowed at schools.

“If this action disrupts campus, affects the emotions of students, or encourages students to take part in some activities, then its purpose is political propaganda,” Yeung said.

The song, with lyrics advocating freedom and democracy, encourages Hong Kong people not to give up their political protest. Some have even called it their “real national anthem.” The song is widely sung at protests, especially at shopping mall demonstrations. The pro-establishment camp criticizes the tune as a “brainwashing song that trumpets Hong Kong independence”.

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In a letter addressed to primary and secondary school principals yesterday, Yeung wrote that any political activities, including class boycotts, slogan chanting, forming human chains and singing political songs, should not be allowed at schools.

“If principals or teachers identify that there are students initiating, organising, joining or encouraging their fellows to participate in these activities, the teachers should immediately counsel the students to stop,” he said.

Yeung added that schools should take “appropriate counselling and disciplinary actions” if students “refuse to comply.”

Labor unions and student groups are initiating a referendum this weekend to gauge sentiment on whether voters are in favor of a general strike and class boycott to protest against the looming national security law.

Yeung denounced the plan. “Schools should not allow students to participate in any such meaningless “referendum”activities,” he wrote.

He also warned that the Education Bureau would “follow up seriously” if teachers are found to take leave to participate in a class boycott.

Education lawmaker Ip Kin-yuen voiced his concern over the letter and the bureau’s hardline stance on the national security law, saying that the authorities are putting pressure on schools.

“Schools are not responsible for helping the authorities to explain their policies to students,” Ip told reporters after yesterday’s Legislative Council meeting.