School Pupils Join Battle Against Extradition Laws

School pupils on Tuesday joined a growing list of opponents to proposed changes to Hong Kong's extradition laws, as students, teachers and alumni from about 80 secondary schools and universities launched a series of online petitions urging the government to withdraw the plan.

By Tuesday afternoon, more than 400 people had signed a petition initiated by alumni of St Francis' Canossian College – the alma mater of Chief Executive Carrie Lam.

The petition warns that once the laws are changed, political dissidents will be surrendered to mainland authorities and Hong Kong’s freedom of expression will be undermined.

It also accuses the government of lacking sincerity in addressing people’s concerns and urges Lam to remember the school's motto: "live by the truth in love".

Meanwhile, a petition has been launched by students, teachers and alumni from St Stephen’s College, the alma mater of Poon Hiu-wing, whose murder in Taiwan last year has been used by the government to justify the urgency of the law changes.

Hong Kong man Chan Tong-kai is reported to have confessed to killing Poon, who was his girlfriend, but the SAR authorities say he cannot be sent to face trial in Taiwan under current SAR laws.

More than 600 people had signed the St Stephen's College petition, which says while everyone there is deeply saddened by Poon's death, the government should not use her murder as an excuse to push ahead with the highly contentious legal amendments.

Responding to the petitions, Education Secretary Kevin Yeung said the campaigns do not reflect the stances of the schools involved.

He said he hoped teachers would explain the planned law changes in a fair manner, without adding their own political views.

He added that the authorities would be happy to visit the schools in question to explain the issue if headteachers think this is necessary.