Carrie Lam defends the liberal studies reform

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor defended the extensive changes to the senior secondary subject liberal studies, saying that the reform was not an example of “politics overriding professionalism.”

She said the direction of the revamp was in line with a report by the Task Force on Review of School Curriculum.

Carrie Lam denied that the government was blaming last year's unrest on Liberal Studies, and reiterated that the authorities had reasonable grounds to revamp the subject on the front of education quality.

Speaking on a radio program, she said that Liberal Studies had come under continuous criticism from the beginning, and that the government should not ignore those complaints.

“Students often mistake critical thinking as to disagree with everything, and that approving the government’s work or the Basic Law means uncritical, which should not be the case,” she said.

Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung Yun-hung announced the subject reform on Thursday, including changing the grading system from the original seven level system to a pass-or-fail system and having its teaching hours halved, as early as in the next academic year.

All the teaching materials will be scrutinised by the SAR government, and there will be more emphasis on the country's development, the constitution, the Basic Law and the rule of law. The subject will also be renamed. 

Meanwhile, Carrie Lam also criticised foreign media for damaging the city’s image with biased reports in the program. 

“I don't think foreign media reports can be subjective and fair, especially those looking at Hong Kong. Recently, on these political matters, I think they have a strong stance in their reports," she said.