Former Hong Kong leader Tung Chee-hwa blames liberal studies at secondary schools for encouraging violent protests among young people
- Tung’s administration initiated the subject which was made compulsory for all upper secondary schools in 2009
- He also called on people to give Carrie Lam a second chance, admitting she had tried to push extradition bill through in haste
Former Hong Kong leader Tung Chee-hwa on Wednesday said he was saddened by the recent violent protests in the city and believed teaching liberal studies at secondary schools was partly to blame.
Tung, now vice-chairman of the nation’s top political advisory body, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, also backed Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, who was embroiled in the snowballing crisis over the suspended extradition bill.
Hundreds of demonstrators stormed the Legislative Council on the 22nd anniversary of the city’s handover to Chinese rule on Monday, breaking windows and daubing graffiti in the chamber.
“The liberal studies curriculum is a failure,” Tung said. “It is one of the reasons behind the youth problems today.”
The curriculum was initiated by Tung’s administration and made compulsory for all upper secondary school pupils in 2009.
