The three-day suspension handed down to students accused of “disrespecting” a flag-raising ceremony at a Tsuen Wan secondary school was an excessive punishment, a Hong Kong political party has said.
In a statement published on Tuesday, the Democratic Party said meting out serious punishments was counterproductive to schools’ duty of being a place of guidance to students.
“Schools and students should abide by the Education Bureau’s clear regulations when it comes to flag-raising ceremonies,” said Leo Chu, the Democratic Party’s spokesperson on education policies. “But schools should not be oversensitive.”
Local media outlets reported over the weekend that 14 students at St. Francis Xavier’s School were suspended from class for three days after being accused of missing a morning flag-raising ceremony last Wednesday. Students told the outlets that they were eating breakfast at the time.
In a statement released on Monday, the secondary school confirmed it had suspended 14 students over the incident for three days.
“[Our] school has all along emphasised following laws and regulations, attaching strong importance to teaching students to respect the national anthem and flag-raising ceremonies, and nurturing students to become responsible citizens,” St. Francis Xavier’s School said.
The Education Bureau said the school had already followed up on students’ inappropriate behaviour and issued a statement to parents. It added that it had requested the school to submit a report about the incident.
“Schools should educate students on the relevant etiquette [for flag-raising ceremonies], for example standing still and behaving solemnly,” the Bureau said. “If students engage in behaviour that disrespects the national flag or the national emblem, the school should follow up.”
HKFP has reached out to the school for comment.
Hong Kong passed a bill in 2020 criminalising disrespectful acts towards the Chinese national anthem, with a maximum penalty of three years in jail.
Guidelines issued by the Education Bureau last year require schools to hold flag-raising ceremonies once a week. The bureau also “strongly advises” schools to hold the ceremonies on important and special occasions, such as graduations and sports days.
One of the students who was punished told Ming Pao that he disagreed with the school’s handling of the matter. “[The school] should tell me what I did wrong and give me evidence,” the student, who asked to be called Anthony, said. “If you have evidence, then punish me for three days. I wouldn’t mind.”
Another student told the local media outlet that he “absolutely supported” the way the school had acted. “That’s what patriotism should look like,” the student added.
The school denied allegations that it had reported the incident to police, local media reported. Police officers did arrive at the school that morning, but it was in relation to a plaque outside the school that was vandalised in the early hours of the day.
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