Hong Kong pupils banned from political activity

  • 2020-07-08 22:49:35
Students in Hong Kong are now banned from any political activity in schools including singing, posting slogans and boycotting classes, the territory's education minister has said. Thousands of children became heavily involved in Hong Kong's pro-democracy push last year. Some 1,600 were arrested for joining the sometimes violent demonstrations. The order comes on the same day that a new national Chinese security office opened in the city. The office is one element of a sweeping new law that makes inciting hatred of China's central government and Hong Kong's regional government illegal. Students in Hong Kong are now banned from any political activity in schools including singing, posting slogans and boycotting classes, the territory's education minister has said. Thousands of children became heavily involved in Hong Kong's pro-democracy push last year. Some 1,600 were arrested for joining the sometimes violent demonstrations. The order comes on the same day that a new national Chinese security office opened in the city. The office is one element of a sweeping new law that makes inciting hatred of China's central government and Hong Kong's regional government illegal. The anti-government movement's demands broadened to include full democracy and an inquiry into police brutality. In schools many children expressed their support for the demonstrations by drowning out the Chinese national anthem with protest song Glory To Hong Kong. Now Education Minister Kevin Yeung says schools must stamp out such demonstrations. Mr Yeung said the song Glory to Hong Kong was "closely related to the social and political incidents, violence and illegal incidents that have lasted for months," according to Reuters news agency. "Schools must not allow students to play, sing or broadcast it in schools," he said. Additionally authorities said students must not form human chains, chant slogans or express other political messages. Last week pro-democracy books were removed from public libraries, and authorities say they will be reviewed to see if they violate the new law.

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