Two candidates for the Legislative Council education functional constituency presented their platforms to more than 500 educators at an election forum on Thursday, outlining contrasting approaches to addressing challenges facing Hong Kong's education sector.
The event, organized by the Education Professionals Alliance comprising 11 education and council groups, featured candidates Ray Cheung Chak-chung and Lawrence Tang Fei at the CCC Heep Woh Primary School (Cheung Sha Wan) auditorium.
Candidate Ray Cheung Chak-chung, who described himself as a scientist who "solves problems from the root," proposed five key policy initiatives including protecting teachers' rights, stabilizing the teaching environment, promoting innovation and technology education, strengthening educational inclusion, and optimizing resource allocation.
His opponent Lawrence Tang Fei emphasized addressing structural population decline and insufficient student numbers through his "one body, four associations" concept. This approach would unite school sponsoring bodies as the core entity with professional associations, councils, unions and principals' organizations to build consensus and seek government support.
Hong Kong Special Schools Council chairperson Lee Ching-man said after the forum that legislators should serve as connectors, noting one candidate demonstrated clear understanding of special school categories and used data effectively, showing genuine attention to special education issues. She expressed hope the elected representative would help non-professionals understand special needs students' requirements and assist them in developing their potential.
