HK leader: Keep politics out of campus

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said students should not be used to achieve political ends and the campus should be free from politics.

In a social media post published on Monday, Lam said it was worrying that politics have taken control of the campus, which should be a place for students to build character, recognize their national identity, cultivate law-abiding awareness and happily learn.

People with ill-intentions have instilled biased opinions and spread hate speech against the government and the nation, resulting in thousands of secondary school students being arrested for breaking the law and publically advocating for separatism, Lam said.

The community should condemn those who instigated students to boycott school or participate in the so-called strike, Lam said.

The Education Bureau will strive to be a good "gatekeeper" on education and to ensure the quality of education, so that the next generation cultivates a national identity and international vision, Lam said.

She appealed to the parents and schools to work in concert with the government to cultivate youngsters.