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Thursday, June 13, 2019, 12:22
Education representatives criticize violent protests
By Oswald Chan in Hong Kong
Thursday, June 13, 2019, 12:22 By Oswald Chan in Hong Kong

Demonstrators sit along Lung Wo Road, outside Central Government Offices, in Hong Kong on June 12, 2019. (ROY LIU / CHINA DAILY)

Representatives from Hong Kong’s education sector denounced Wednesday’s violent protests in the city, saying that young people should learn to express their opinions in a peaceful, calm and rational manner.

“We are gravely concerned about the intensifying conflicts and tension in the community. We plead for calm from all sectors of the community, and appeal to all to consider their own safety and that of others. We urge everyone to work cooperatively and rationally toward resolving the current impasse,” reads a statement issued by 11 local university presidents on Wednesday.

Teachers, parents and principals should do all they can to convince young people to be law-abiding.

Cai Yi, Executive chairman, Federation of Alumni Association of Chinese Colleges and Universities in Hong Kong

Thousands of protesters blocked access to government buildings on Wednesday, forcing the Legislative Council to indefinitely postpone the resumption of the second reading of a bill to amend Hong Kong’s extradition law.

READ MORE: Carrie Lam condemns violence at protests

The siege should not have happened at all when young people in Hong Kong have the channel to express their opinion to LegCo and government departments regarding the amendments to the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance, said Cai Yi, executive chairman at the Federation of Alumni Association of Chinese Colleges and Universities in Hong Kong.

He is worried that the action of some young people will be a bad influence on other young people in the city.

“Teachers, parents and principals should do all they can to convince young people to be law-abiding,” Cai told China Daily, adding that the violent conflict could affect the Hong Kong legal system and undermine the normal operation of LegCo.

READ MORE: Education Bureau opposes class boycott

“I think the police already have no alternative so that they have to use force to control the situation. I think the use of force is necessary to restore the normal operation of LegCo,” Cai said.

Wong Yuk-shan, president of the Open University of Hong Kong, echoed Cai’s sentiments. 

“People who have different opinions regarding the amendments to the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance can express their opinions to the LegCo members, who come from a diversity of political backgrounds,” Wong told China Daily.

The deputy to the National People’s Congress, the country’s top legislature, said he is not pleased with the protests. “Such an incident should not happen in Hong Kong as these are not peaceful and rational acts,” he said.

Wong also agreed with Cai that the police used restraint when controlling the event.

oswald@chinadailyhk.com


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