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[h=2]Hong Kong U-Turn National Education Policy[/h]
September 13th, 2012 |
Author: Contributions
When I read about 15 yr old Joshua Wong; student leader
of Scholarism – a student group – protesting with thousands of other Hong Kong
students and residents outside their government HQ, many questions came to my
mind. I could not help comparing Hong Kong to Singapore and their students with
our students [LINK].
Hong Kong and Singapore have got many similarities in size, population and
culture. We are both Asian based societies formerly under the British rule. We
inherited the rule of law from the British. Many of our institutions and
governance are also inherited from the British. We became self-government in
1959 and then independence in 1965. Whereas, Hong Kong returned back to the
China only in 1997. We are so similar and yet so different in so many ways.
I notice that the citizens in Hong Kong would protest and demonstrate every
now and then against the government policy or over some events. June 4th will
always see peaceful demonstration by Hong Kong residents lighting candles
keeping vigil to commemorate those killed in Tiananmen Sq. What about the
protest against the GST hike which was aborted; among other protests. On every
July 1st – the handover date in 1997, there will also be mass protest demanding
for universal suffrage. We know that Hong Kong citizens do not directly elect
their own Chief Executive and half of the MPs in parliament or council are
nominated by the Chinese communist. Hong Kong is still under Special
Administrative Zone of China where they are allowed autonomy for most things
except defence and foreign affairs. One country with two systems is how they
describe it.
Politically, Hong Kong citizens do have much voting rights. Unlike us, Hong
Kongers do not elect their own MPs directly to represent them. But if they do
not have voting rights, then why they still have 4 main political parties – some
pro Beijng and others not. In Hong Kong, I was told that there are more than 30
major and minor newspapers in Chinese or English. The newspapers there are free
to report whatever they want without any restrictions. Even their TV and radio
stations are full of live commentary with debate on social issues and current
affairs. If you often read about Hong Kong news, the people there are often seen
marching on the streets shouting slogans and protesting against some government
policy. For example when the Hong Kong government wanted to tear down Queen
Pier, so many protested.
I am no expert on Hong Kong’s complicating social and political systems. But
I do know that they could suka suka protest and march on the streets if they are
not happy with the government policy. Mind you, their protests are very orderly
and no riots caused. No damages to public property. No deaths or bombs at all.
Their peaceful protests and demonstrations as seen in those 1st world countries,
unlike those in middle eastern countries, Afghanistan or Pakistan where
bloodshed often followed.
In view of the above facts, could we say that there is no democracy or
freedom of expression in Hong Kong? Some of you may say yes and no. In short,
it’s quite an interesting phenomenon happening in Hong Kong. Even that 15-yr old
student could speak so bravely and eloquently to reporters when interviewed by
so many TV and radio stations. He is leading a protest against the government
introducing compulsory National Education in all schools. They feel that it’s a
form of “brain-washing” by the Hong Kong government acting under instruction
from Beijing. The students detested such programme. The reason given by the
student leader, Joshua Wong is that NE discourages critical thinking and it
glorifies a political party which they do not adhere blindly to.
Now if we compare our students to Hong Kong students, the differences are
quite obvious. I do not think our students would be that daring and bold like
their counterparts in Hong Kong. There was a time in our early years of history
when Chinese stream students protested against the government. It was never
those English educated students. That period of our brief history is well
documented if you care to read up.
We also have GE every 5 years to choose our representatives from different
parties to form the government. We also choose our president once every 6 years.
In fact, all our leaders in government are chosen by us. We do have universal
suffrage. Why then we are still not satisfied with our system? We are still
complaining about lack of freedom and rights of protest. We are telling the
whole world that we have limited democracy.
I feel that maybe the answer lies in our government having strict controls on
our press and MSM. I don’t understand why we still have the ISA when Hong Kong
never had it even though both were formerly under British colonial rule. Is the
ISA – Malaysia already repealed it recently – curbing the freedom and rights of
expression of ordinary law abiding citizens? We can’t just go to the street and
march in protest unlike in Hong Kong or those advanced first world countries. We
have already reached the living standards of first world standard, yet socially
and politically we are still in the 60s or 70s! As citizens of this country
unlike in Hong Kong, we really can’t do much if we really feel that the langgar
policy is unfair or not right! There is no say on how our lives ought to be
governed except once in every 5 yrs. Wonder no more, why opposition political
rallies attract throng of listeners whereas the incumbents so miserably few
spectators!
Does it mean that allowing peaceful demonstrations and orderly protests will
lead to chaos, social upheavals or anarchy? Just look at Hong Kong. Did it
collapse and fall apart? Need I say more? The government need to closely examine
this aspect if it wants to earn the citizens’ respect and trust. Hopefully, this
government will change cuz I believe most of them – 60.1% of citizens at least,
do not want to change this government. They want the government to change – that
is the difference.
Click
here to read related article.
.
Gintai_昇泰
* Gintai is a Chinese Singaporean living in the Eastern part of Sg. He
works in SMRT as a Train Officer. He tweets on current affairs &
inspirational quotes. He likes to share some of the interesting jokes, stories
or anecdotes from friends or observations on his blog. He blogs at http://gintai.wordpress.com.
.
When I read about 15 yr old Joshua Wong; student leader
of Scholarism – a student group – protesting with thousands of other Hong Kong
students and residents outside their government HQ, many questions came to my
mind. I could not help comparing Hong Kong to Singapore and their students with
our students [LINK].
Hong Kong and Singapore have got many similarities in size, population and
culture. We are both Asian based societies formerly under the British rule. We
inherited the rule of law from the British. Many of our institutions and
governance are also inherited from the British. We became self-government in
1959 and then independence in 1965. Whereas, Hong Kong returned back to the
China only in 1997. We are so similar and yet so different in so many ways.
I notice that the citizens in Hong Kong would protest and demonstrate every
now and then against the government policy or over some events. June 4th will
always see peaceful demonstration by Hong Kong residents lighting candles
keeping vigil to commemorate those killed in Tiananmen Sq. What about the
protest against the GST hike which was aborted; among other protests. On every
July 1st – the handover date in 1997, there will also be mass protest demanding
for universal suffrage. We know that Hong Kong citizens do not directly elect
their own Chief Executive and half of the MPs in parliament or council are
nominated by the Chinese communist. Hong Kong is still under Special
Administrative Zone of China where they are allowed autonomy for most things
except defence and foreign affairs. One country with two systems is how they
describe it.
Politically, Hong Kong citizens do have much voting rights. Unlike us, Hong
Kongers do not elect their own MPs directly to represent them. But if they do
not have voting rights, then why they still have 4 main political parties – some
pro Beijng and others not. In Hong Kong, I was told that there are more than 30
major and minor newspapers in Chinese or English. The newspapers there are free
to report whatever they want without any restrictions. Even their TV and radio
stations are full of live commentary with debate on social issues and current
affairs. If you often read about Hong Kong news, the people there are often seen
marching on the streets shouting slogans and protesting against some government
policy. For example when the Hong Kong government wanted to tear down Queen
Pier, so many protested.
I am no expert on Hong Kong’s complicating social and political systems. But
I do know that they could suka suka protest and march on the streets if they are
not happy with the government policy. Mind you, their protests are very orderly
and no riots caused. No damages to public property. No deaths or bombs at all.
Their peaceful protests and demonstrations as seen in those 1st world countries,
unlike those in middle eastern countries, Afghanistan or Pakistan where
bloodshed often followed.
In view of the above facts, could we say that there is no democracy or
freedom of expression in Hong Kong? Some of you may say yes and no. In short,
it’s quite an interesting phenomenon happening in Hong Kong. Even that 15-yr old
student could speak so bravely and eloquently to reporters when interviewed by
so many TV and radio stations. He is leading a protest against the government
introducing compulsory National Education in all schools. They feel that it’s a
form of “brain-washing” by the Hong Kong government acting under instruction
from Beijing. The students detested such programme. The reason given by the
student leader, Joshua Wong is that NE discourages critical thinking and it
glorifies a political party which they do not adhere blindly to.
Now if we compare our students to Hong Kong students, the differences are
quite obvious. I do not think our students would be that daring and bold like
their counterparts in Hong Kong. There was a time in our early years of history
when Chinese stream students protested against the government. It was never
those English educated students. That period of our brief history is well
documented if you care to read up.
We also have GE every 5 years to choose our representatives from different
parties to form the government. We also choose our president once every 6 years.
In fact, all our leaders in government are chosen by us. We do have universal
suffrage. Why then we are still not satisfied with our system? We are still
complaining about lack of freedom and rights of protest. We are telling the
whole world that we have limited democracy.
I feel that maybe the answer lies in our government having strict controls on
our press and MSM. I don’t understand why we still have the ISA when Hong Kong
never had it even though both were formerly under British colonial rule. Is the
ISA – Malaysia already repealed it recently – curbing the freedom and rights of
expression of ordinary law abiding citizens? We can’t just go to the street and
march in protest unlike in Hong Kong or those advanced first world countries. We
have already reached the living standards of first world standard, yet socially
and politically we are still in the 60s or 70s! As citizens of this country
unlike in Hong Kong, we really can’t do much if we really feel that the langgar
policy is unfair or not right! There is no say on how our lives ought to be
governed except once in every 5 yrs. Wonder no more, why opposition political
rallies attract throng of listeners whereas the incumbents so miserably few
spectators!
Does it mean that allowing peaceful demonstrations and orderly protests will
lead to chaos, social upheavals or anarchy? Just look at Hong Kong. Did it
collapse and fall apart? Need I say more? The government need to closely examine
this aspect if it wants to earn the citizens’ respect and trust. Hopefully, this
government will change cuz I believe most of them – 60.1% of citizens at least,
do not want to change this government. They want the government to change – that
is the difference.
Click
here to read related article.
.
Gintai_昇泰
* Gintai is a Chinese Singaporean living in the Eastern part of Sg. He
works in SMRT as a Train Officer. He tweets on current affairs &
inspirational quotes. He likes to share some of the interesting jokes, stories
or anecdotes from friends or observations on his blog. He blogs at http://gintai.wordpress.com.
.
