Insufficient education radicalizes youngsters

Educational and legal experts in Hong Kong said on Monday that biased reports about the police and insufficient education about the rule of law and national identity have contributed to the surging number of violent acts by the city's young.

The remarks came after the Hong Kong Police Force revealed the same day that student arrestees have accounted for nearly 40 percent of the 6,022 arrests related to the anti-government demonstrations since June 9. The youngest of those arrested was only 11.

Ho Hon-kuen, chairman of the professional association Education Convergence, said that young students are easily influenced by the biased political speech on campuses, as radicals have infiltrated universities and secondary schools.

But the real reason behind the scenes is youngsters' lack of "national identity", Ho said.

During the six months of social unrest, radical protesters, comprising mainly young people, stormed the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR and defaced the national emblem. Enterprises that have mainland links have been vandalized. Offensive graffiti that targeted the central government, the Communist Party of China and people from the Chinese mainland have been sprayed in various locations.

Ho suggested the HKSAR government work with the central government and social organizations to enhance education on history, culture and basic conditions of the country.

For example, in addition to natural science funds, the central government should allocate funding to projects on Chinese culture education, encouraging teachers and students in the SAR to get better-versed in Chinese culture, he said.

Meanwhile, educators should bear in mind that under the "one country, two systems" principle, "one country" always comes first, Ho added.

Wong Kwan-yu, president of the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers, said biased and inaccurate reports on the city's law enforcers fuel young people's anti-police sentiments and incite them to vent their anger on the front-line officers through violence.

He said educators should work with society to eliminate prejudice against the police, and teach students to make a clear distinction between right and wrong.

"Young students should hold to the bottom line of the law and get their demands met in a peaceful way. Violence cannot address any problems," he said.

Ambrose Lam San-keung, former president of the Law Society of Hong Kong, said education plays an important part in preventing the young from engaging in illegal acts.

He added there's an urgent need to increase the costs to young people who break the law, since peace and order will not return if the city continues to tolerate law-breaking youngsters.