Room for discussion on national studies: CE

September 04, 2012

Chief Executive CY Leung said there is room for discussion on whether or not to withdraw the moral and national education subject, and called on the Civil Alliance Against National Education to join the Committee on Implementation of Moral & National Education to express their views.
 
Speaking to the media today, Mr Leung noted Chief Secretary Carrie Lam had announced last night the Government would accept committee chairman Anna Wu's suggestion that the committee’s terms of reference be expanded so that all views, including withdrawal of the new subject, could be discussed at the committee.
 
He hoped those who have concerns over the subject can put forward their views, including reasons why the subject should be withdrawn. The Government is willing to open a dialogue with opponents, he stressed.
 
Mr Leung said there is no need to insist on any stance at this moment because the Government has not even published its reference teaching materials for the subject and it is the committee’s responsibility to scrutinise the materials.
 
He called on the alliance to send two to three representatives to join the committee as it is pragmatic to do so.
 
When asked why he did not meet with protesters directly, Mr Leung said the crowd chanted “withdrawal” at the scene when Mrs Lam spoke with the media last night. Under such circumstances, he believed they would only demand the subject's withdrawal, no matter what officials said to them. Mr Leung hoped to have a discussion with them and listen to their views.
 
Mr Leung said he has given clear instructions to the police that the Government had no intention to clear the demonstrators from the protest area, urging the public not to believe in groundless online rumours.