Article 23 won’t be included in recruitment Basic Law test for teachers: Christine Choi

Article 23 will not be included in the Basic Law and National Security Law Test which teachers are required to take before getting hired by schools, Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin said. 

Speaking in a radio interview, Choi also said teachers won’t be asked to study law so as to answer all legal questions fired by students. 

She pointed out that teachers are not legal experts and she doesn’t expect them to be able to answer questions like laws on jaywalking or drivers incurring points on their licences. 

She also suggested teachers lead students to interview the Secretary for Justice or the Secretary for Security through a focused study if students have any questions related to Article 23. 

Choi added that the Education Bureau won’t introduce a school subject dedicated to Article 23 after the legislation completes. 

She noted that the curriculum for both primary and secondary students will be updated, for example the modules of “Hong Kong under One Country, Two Systems” and “Our Country since Reform and Opening-up” in the Citizenship and Social Development subject for secondary 4 to 6 students. 

She continued that what students learn varies depending on which phases they are in; primary and secondary students will learn to abide by the law while university students especially those studying law will need to have a thorough and in-depth understanding. 

Choi also said there is no need to overly interpret if Article 23 legislation will spark another immigration wave for teachers and students. And schools have to consider merging or ceasing operation now that students’ population is dropping.