Some 90,000 people take to Hong Kong streets to protest against pro-Beijing 'national education'
Hong Kong (AsiaNews) - Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in Hong Kong yesterday to protest against plans for school reform imposed by the Chinese government, which include textbooks that glorify the Chinese political system as part of a new subject called 'national education'.
The Catholic Church was the first to oppose the reform in 2002. Card Joseph Zen Ze-kiun led Catholics, followed by other religions, in a battle against the changes, which were nevertheless adopted because of pro-Beijing great electors.
Protesters left Victoria Park and marched until the Admiralty. Organisers said that about 90,000 took part in the event, many of them parents with children, concerned that the changes would amount to pro-mainland brainwashing, as card Zen has warned. Many teachers took part in the event as well.
Hong Kong's Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said that the government of the former British crown colony would establish a body with "broad enough representation" to monitor the implementation of the subject.
Parents are particularly upset by some books that praise China's political model and one-party system as the only that can work.
Hong Kong authorities plan to implement the reform this September on a three-year trial basis. After that, it would become permanent for all primary schools in 2015 and for all high schools in 2016.
Yesterday's protest was the latest in a series that brought people out into the streets to oppose Beijing's growing influence in various sectors of Hong Kong life, this despite claims by local and mainland authorities that they are sticking to the 'one country, two systems' model.
Protests increased particularly after pro-Beijing Leung Chun-ying took over as the city's chief executive on 1 July.
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19/06/2020 15:09
28/05/2020 10:48
