The younger generation can play a crucial role in encouraging intolerance towards corruption. With this is in mind, the Independent Commission Against Corruption has invited the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre to lead interactive drama workshops at secondary schools to raise awareness about the damage corruption causes to society.
The Hong Kong Repertory Theatre has performed ICAC skits in about 300 secondary schools this academic year. Last month, the actors travelled to Pui Kiu Middle School in North Point to perform for a class of Secondary 4 students.
They depicted the story of university student “Little Cockroach” whose uncle had applied for the tender to run the campus canteen. His uncle offered him a discount in return for his vote. But Little Cockroach became ill after eating bad food his uncle had prepared and fell unconscious. He dreamt of travelling back to the Song dynasty where he met with his ancestor - a judge presiding over a deception case. He watched as the judge became critically ill and the defendant offered him life-saving ginseng in return for a not-guilty verdict. The offer was refused.
The actors asked the students what they would do in that situation.
One said the judge was right to refuse the ginseng as it was clearly a bribe for a favourable verdict, while another suggested he should have accepted the ginseng as it was a matter of life or death.
The students learned that when Little Cockroach woke up, he decided to reject his uncle’s bribe and told him to improve his food hygiene standards if he wanted to win his support.
Teaching technique
ICAC Principal Youth & Education Officer Brenda So believes dramatising corruption scenarios can be more effective than giving classroom lectures.
“In the interactive drama they provide scenarios for the students so they can put themselves in the characters’ shoes. They empathise more with the characters and they know more about the intensity of a moral dilemma. They think deeply, they reflect deeply, and they can apply what they learn from the characters … in such a way that they can make a correct decision when they are facing corruption temptation,” Ms So noted.
Student Yoyo Chik said after watching the skit, she understood more about Hong Kong’s anti-corruption laws and what constitutes a corruption offence.
“The drama had an interesting plot and was more interesting than listening to a classroom talk. We could interact with the actors and understand the complex message they were presenting to us,” she said.
Dramatic licence
Ms So noted that the ICAC gives the acting troupe creative freedom, but also sets out clear guidelines for them to follow.
“We explain to them the spirit of the law and the elements that constitute a corruption offence so after they grasp the legislation, they use their creativity to write the script and design the plot, and throughout the process we work closely to make sure that the anti-corruption messages are correctly and effectively conveyed.”
The ICAC launched its interactive drama initiative in 1999. Its target audience is mainly secondary school students in form four to five.
Ms So noted that the dramas have so far been met with a positive response. About 80% of the students who have seen them say the skits have increased their understanding of anti-graft laws and they feel better-equipped to face moral dilemmas in future.
