Government officials revoked a Hong Kong teacher’s registration after an investigation found the teacher had allegedly used pro-independence materials in class.
The Education Bureau of China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region accused the teacher of committing a premeditated act in violation of Hong Kong’s Basic Law, its de facto constitution which protects freedom of assembly and freedom of speech—neither of which exist in mainland China.
The teacher at Alliance Primary School in Kowloon Tong “had a plan to spread the independence message,” the deputy secretary for education, Chan Siu Suk-fan, said Tuesday.
“In order to protect students’ interest and safeguard teachers’ professionalism and public trust in the teaching profession, the education bureau decided to cancel the teacher’s registration,” the bureau said in a statement.
Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung Yun-hung said the bureau has told teachers since 2016 that the topic of “Hong Kong independence” cannot be openly discussed in