Hong Kong teachers ‘stop pupils from handing out’ pro-independence fliers

Organiser of campus campaign says groups in at least 10 city schools restarted advocacy for breakaway from China

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Pupils handing out fliers at a school on Tuesday. Photo: David Wong

Peace Chiu,Elizabeth CheungandErnest Kao

Published: 12:57pm, 14 Nov 2017Updated: 11:57am, 15 Nov 2017

Student activists’ revival of a citywide campaign to promote Hong Kong’s separation from China on Tuesday drew responses from police and education authorities, with a school halting pupils from handing out pro-independence materials near its campus.

The movement’s organisers said 10 secondary schools handed out fliers and stickers advocating separatism before lessons began, while materials such as banners were put up at two tertiary institutions.

One of the two was Caritas Institute of Higher Education in Tseung Kwan O, according to the Facebook page of a pro-independence group affiliated with pupils at the school.

Localist group Hong Kong National Front distributing pro-independence fliers at Stewards Pooi Kei College in Sha Tin. Photo: David Wong

After classes let out, pupils from several schools came together to mend two street booths where they had handed out their materials to passers-by.

At a footbridge near Long Ping MTR station, four members of co-organiser Studentlocalism distributed separatist-themed fliers for an hour close as evening approached. The pupils, studying in Forms Five and Six, erected a banner bearing the message “Hong Kong Independence”.