This May 27, 2020 photo shows Hong Kong's middle school students cleaning their hands with sanitizers as they return to their classes after a four-month class suspension caused by the coronavirus pandemic. (PARKER ZHENG / CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG – An online ballot planned to rally support for secondary students to boycott school has drawn withering criticism from leading political, education and civil society groups.

The “evil hands” that use minor-age students to push violent political aims is “shameful”, according to a statement from the provincial Hong Kong Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Members Association.

The HKCPPCC said students could accidentally get caught in violent actions that could ruin their career prospects, which would be “heartbreaking.”

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Nearly 9,000 people were arrested for protest-related offenses from last June, with about 40 percent of them students, according to the Hong Kong police.

The Hong Kong Federation of Overseas Chinese Associations said opposition activists are using students as political pawns

The association said it will firmly support Hong Kong government’s education reform so that it will be in line with the “one country, two systems” principle. Schools should also teach students the importance of the Basic Law and national security.

The proposed online boycott is “unconstitutional” and “unlawful” as it has no legal basis under the Basic Law and Hong Kong’s legal system, the Hong Kong Federation of Overseas Chinese Associations said in a statement.

The federation said opposition activists are using students as political pawns.

Executive Council member Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee said any move to incite students to participate in an illegal ballot was wrong.

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Ip said the Education Bureau should take the lead to promote the “one country, two systems” principle and national security education.

Educators also condemned the boycott and called for education reforms in the city.

Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers council member Lee Hiu-ying said young students need to be protected. They should not be manning the frontlines of political turmoil.

Lee’s views were echoed by Francis Lui Ting-ming, emeritus professor of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, who said the city’s education system should be in line with the “one country, two systems” principle.