Outgoing education chief Kevin Yeung said education authorities had “brought order out of chaos” during his tenure, raising students who love their country and Hong Kong.
The education chief wrote on his Facebook page on Wednesday that he was reluctant to part ways with colleagues and students, but he will be in charge of the new Office of Culture, Sports and Tourism in the next administration.
“Over the past few years, we have received support from all levels to carry out a great deal of work aimed at bringing order to chaos and striking at the root of evil, providing an environment of safe and calm learning for teachers and students, and to nurture patriotic and self-motivated [students] for the country and Hong Kong,” Yeung wrote.
In addition, he said the current administration has increased the annual education budget to more than HK$100 billion and successfully implemented many education policies including curriculum improvement. for primary and secondary education, as well as the strengthening of national education and values.
“…[A]All of these were based on the love and care for students, as well as the common beliefs and efforts of different stakeholders and the government,” Yeung added.
“Bringing Order Out of Chaos”
The 59-year-old first joined the Education Bureau as undersecretary for education in 2012 and was appointed head of the bureau five years later.
During his tenure as Hong Kong’s education chief, he pushed through the controversial liberal studies overhaul – a topic criticized by pro-Beijing voices as encouraging participation in protests.
Replacement curriculum textbooks linked the 2019 protests and unrest to foreign interference and denied that Hong Kong was a British colony. Meanwhile, politically sensitive books have been pulled from library shelves.
Yeung also supported removing the phrase “separation of powers” from teaching materials, as several teachers were fired for political reasons under his leadership.
From July 1, Yeung’s post will be taken over by Undersecretary of Education Choi Yuk-lin, who previously served as vice president of a pro-Beijing teachers’ union and actively supported the proposed national education subsequently abolished in 2012.
Support HKFP | Code of Ethics | Error / typo? | Contact us | Newsletter | Transparency & Annual Report
