HONG KONG - Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung Yun-hung said changes to Hong Kong’s education system are urgently needed to enhance a sense of national identity among local students under the “one country, two systems” principle.

His remark came as there was a radical call for secondary students to boycott classes over a proposed national security law for the city. Teachers and government officials have both criticized such a move.

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To help students understand the Basic Law and the spirit of the rule of law is to foster the right values that enable them not to be misled by others in the future.

Kevin Yeung, HK Secretary for Educaiton

“To help students understand the Basic Law and the spirit of the rule of law is to foster the right values that enable them not to be misled by others in the future,” said Yeung. 

Radical student and labor groups planned an online ballot campaign this weekend to encourage a school boycott, ignoring educators and public officials who said that such a move would undermine the city’s education system. 

“Most teachers still put students’ well-being in the first place, although some may have contravened professional conduct, which we will deal with seriously.” 

Yeung said educators need to create a favorable learning environment for the city’s students and help them understand the rule of law and foster the right civic values.

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On Friday, two top central government agencies overseeing Hong Kong affairs called for a revamp of Hong Kong’s education system to raise students’ awareness of national identity. 

The education chief endorsed the recommendations during an interview with local media. He added however that Hong Kong’s education system will still retain distinctive features that reflect “two systems” in “one country”.