HK Government's "White Terror" Aimed at Educators

Thousands showed up at Edinburgh Place to protest the Education Bureau

The Hong Kong government is now putting pressure on teachers and principals to get into line when it comes to the anti-government protests.

Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung Yun-hung told state media outlet the Shanghai Observer last Saturday that the government had the power to disqualify principals who were deemed unsuitable for their jobs. He also said principals should investigate teachers who are found to be using inappropriate teaching materials, to making hate-inciting or discriminatory remarks online.

Yeung says principals must ensure teachers are investigated

If the principals do not investigate these teachers, then the principals could be stripped of their positions and teachers' qualifications.

The Professional Teachers' Union, which represents 85 percent of teachers in the city, has traded barbs with the Education Bureau since December about how teachers have been treated in cases linked to anti-government protests.

In response to Yeung's latest announcement, the PTU says this amounts to "white terror", though Yeung denies this, saying principals should investigate based on facts.

A massive rally was held in Edinburgh Place in Central on Friday night, with thousands shouting slogans such as "Say no to white terror" and "Educators, unite as one".

One teacher who gave her name as Sugar at the rally said she was angry that many colleagues faced complaints and suspensions in recent months for expressing their personal views on social media.

Another secondary school teacher surnamed Yuen in his 40s has taught science for more than 20 years. He believed the Education Bureau was "threatening principals" when it said they could be removed from their positions if they didn't cooperate with investigations on teachers.

Protesters are angry at the bureau's "white terror" at educators

"When there were previous cases of principals abusing their power, the [bureau] had not said they would use their powers to suspend the principals. But now, when there were no such cases of principals not cooperating with the bureau's investigation, the bureau has mentioned that power," he said.

So far 80 teachers and teaching assistants have been arrested in connection with the protests, and the bureau has received 123 protest-related complaints against educators, with 13 confirmed as wrong-doing cases. Some complaints centered around online comments by teachers.

Meanwhile the union has accused the bureau of not giving teachers a chance to defend themselves against the charges before being notified that their cases have been substantiated.

Union president Fung Wai-wah has said the bureau was "spreading white terror" and the government was blaming teachers for encouraging students to go on the streets to protest.

However the bureau accused the union of loss of professionalism...

This threat by Yeung is unprecedented and it's the government's attempt to stop young people from going on the streets.

But what if the child's parents are the ones taking them to the protests? How is it the fault of the teachers?

Beijing has also hinted the need to revisit national education again, and for sure Hong Kong parents and educators will put up a fight on that front too...