Hong Kong schoolteachers wary over government's tightening grip

Fears of crossing red line grow after instructor fired for independence discussion

20201019 HONG KONG education main image

Students in Hong Kong protest on June 12 after a music teacher did not have her contract renewed after she allowed students to play a protest song during an exam. © Reuters

MICHELLE CHAN, Nikkei staff writer

HONG KONG -- Having taught students for nearly two decades, Lau had never thought that his stable job could one day entail political risks until earlier this month, when the Hong Kong government deregistered a primary school teacher for discussing independence in his class.

The day after the news of the teacher became public, Lau, who had always created original material for his teenage students, spent a full day reviewing all of his notes and worksheets to ensure that no "sensitive topics" were included.

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