'Extradition Inquiry Would Help Us Move Forward'

A top educator said the setting up of an inquiry into the extradition controversy would allow the government to learn from its mistakes and move society forward.

The chairman of the Association of the Heads of Secondary Schools, Teddy Tang, said he raised the idea of establishing a kind of truth and reconciliation commission during a meeting with the Chief Executive Carrie Lam on Monday. He said it would help come up with solutions for the future.

Lam held a series of meetings with various sectors, one of them with 20 educators including Tang, one day after an estimated two million people took to the streets to voice their opposition to the extradition bill and the way the Chief Executive handled the saga.

Tang also quoted Lam as saying that her announcement on Saturday to suspend the contentious bill means "total withdrawal", and her government would not propose the legal amendments again.

On calls for Lam to step down, the educator said that was not discussed in the meeting, but he does not believe she would step down.

He said the Chief Executive told them she still has a lot of work to do in different areas such as education, and she wants to carry on.

Tang said Lam apologised and expressed regret over what happened in recent weeks.

When asked if he was satisfied with the Chief Executive's response, Tang said: "Being an educator, I guess sometimes we need to accept apologies and move forward."

The Association of the Heads of Secondary Schools was against earlier calls for class boycotts.

In a statement issued before last Wednesday's clashes, the association also said it was in favour of the government shelving the extradition proposal, says officials should do more to listen to various views in the community.