4 | Thursday, October 8, 2020 HONG KONG| EDITIONCHINA DAILY COMMENTHK Yang Sheng TO THE POINT STAFF WRITER ‘Project Lazarus’ is a new plot Indoctrination with harmful to galvanize HK separatism ideas not part of academic freedom Teachers are sometimes called “engi- world to nurture patriotism and rule-of- neers of the soul” because what they say law awareness in schools, a responsibility Yang Sheng says Benny Tai’s latest political scheme and do in class can infl uence the stu- all teachers are naturally expected to dents for many years to come and even assume because they are professionally is devised to divide the city and plunge it into chaos for their whole life. That is why parents trained to give students useful knowl- and society in general tend to hold teach- edge as well as moral guidance and ers to a very high standard in terms of fundamental command of humanity and fter failing to achieve Still coping with the linger- the nation’s Constitution and the HKSAR professional integrity. universal values. In this respect, teachers his political agenda Basic Law, through a self-determination Unfortunately, some corrupt individu- are obliged to set an example for stu- with the illegal “Occupy ing trauma of the “Occupy process. In short, it is a new plot to sepa- als from the education sector, driven dents to follow. Take a look at the United Central” movement in rate Hong Kong from China. by their own political preferences, have States, which is regarded as a “model 2014, Benny Tai Yiu-ting Central” campaign and the In 2013, when Tai was advocating his abused their professional status for years democracy” by some people in Hong has kept churning out violent “black revolution”, “Occupy Central with Love and Peace” on end to indoctrinate innocent students Kong. Schools there strictly forbid the plots, one after another, campaign, he organized three so-called with harmful ideas, including separatism spread of secessionism, hate-mongering to advance his agenda. He has recently the people of Hong Kong Deliberation Days, and called for strikes and “achieving justice by breaking the and advocacy of violence. Perpetrators Aunveiled his new pet “Project Lazarus”, and class boycotts. His campaign eventu- law”, in the name of free speech and aca- are always dealt with swiftly and severely which he claims will engage the public in must be on high alert for ally led to major road blockages and the demic freedom. Some of them even fi lled according to relevant laws and rules, a citywide “consultation process” to dis- another disruptive cam- paralysis of core business districts, plung- students with hatred toward the authori- including lengthy if not a life ban from cuss the “blueprint for rebirth” for Hong ing Hong Kong into a state of lawless- ties, turning them into foot soldiers to teaching in schools. US law also requires Kong. Obviously, in designing his new paign put forward by po- ness for 79 days. “Occupy Central” also fi ght for their own political gains. Those schools to nurture patriotism and a sense project, Tai chose to continue ignoring litical demagogues such planted a seed for the anti-extradition- teachers have in fact been doing the of law-abiding civility in students in the constitutional status of Hong Kong as law amendment-bill movement last year, exact opposite of what their profession is accordance with moral education guide- a special administrative region of China, as Tai. Discerning the true which, needless to say, brought division meant to pursue. lines issued by the federal government. as well as the central government’s over- and rampant violence to the city. “Proj- The primary school teacher recently Unscrupulous teachers in Hong Kong all jurisdiction over Hong Kong. His new motives behind his sweet ect Lazarus” is of a similar nature as deregistered by the Education Bureau who have been indoctrinating students maneuver to “build a democratic Hong talk will help prevent law- “Occupy Central”. By initiating “a grand is one of such ill-motivated individu- with ideas of separatism and hatred Kong through discussion” is actually self- debate” on the future of Hong Kong to als who poisoned students’ minds with toward the authorities are morally cor- determination in disguise with an agenda lessness from taking over gather “public opinion”, “Project Lazarus” political prejudice and separatist ideas. rupt and, therefore, have no qualms to turn Hong Kong into an independent attempts to concoct a new wave of sepa- The teacher in question committed about radicalizing students and turn- political entity. Should “Project Laza- our city again. ratist maneuvers that include inciting those abuses systematically instead of ing them into “fi ghters” for their own rus” go ahead as planned, it will surely illegal and violent protests in pursuit of inadvertently, as some opposition politi- political agenda. As a result of systematic become another version of “Occupy Cen- “dual universal su rage” and inviting cians claimed in his defense. In addition indoctrination over the years, some 1,600 tral” that would tear the city apart with mittee of the National People’s Congress more foreign intervention into Hong to harming students morally and intel- students arrested during the year-long another wave of violence and vandalism. set up the framework for the implemen- Kong’s internal a airs. Determined to lectually, he also gave teachers a very “black revolution” were below the age Tai’s “Occupy Central” movement has tation of universal su rage for the selec- sacrifi ce the interests of Hong Kong and bad name and damaged the reputation of 18 and most of them were secondary wreaked havoc on Hong Kong; there is tion of the chief executive and the elec- the entire country, Tai will do whatever of the education sector. Deregistering a school students, with the youngest being no way Hong Kong people will sit on tion of members of the Legislative Coun- it takes to achieve Hong Kong indepen- teacher is a serious penalty. That is why merely 12. their hands and let him have his way. cil in a resolution it passed on Aug 31, dence through self-determination. it has rarely been applied. In this case, it Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability “Project Lazarus” alludes to a biblical 2014. As a special administrative region The National Security Law, intended was absolutely necessary and appropri- is in growing danger of collapse unless story about the resurrection of Lazarus. of China under the “one country, two to put an end to chaos, has been success- ate, and the Education Bureau’s decision bold and swift remedial actions are Its name unambiguously insinuates systems” principle, Hong Kong’s electoral fully implemented. E ective law enforce- is perfectly in line with Article 47 of the taken to depoliticize campuses. The Tai’s new attempt to revive his political reform can be carried out only within the ment under the new law has gradually Education Ordinance. Education Bureau still has a long, uphill campaign. In an e ort to promote his framework prescribed in accordance with put Hong Kong back on track. Tai claims It is a common practice around the journey. new project, Tai published an article in a the Constitution, the Basic Law and other his “Project Lazarus” is intended to local newspaper in which he said Hong relevant laws. engage the community and promote “a Kong “had been buried in a dark tomb”. Tai’s “Project Lazarus” emphasizes grand debate” on the “rebirth of Hong He went on to encourage readers to the need to discuss the road map for Kong”, but we all know that his new “prepare themselves for the democratic implementing universal su rage in Hong campaign is nothing more than a plot to elections that have yet to come”. He called Kong. However, never has he mentioned divide society for the sake of his politi- Editor’s note: China Daily on at least 4,000 people to participate in that electoral reform in the SAR must cal persuasions. Still coping with the Hong Kong Edition has launched “Project Lazarus” to discuss “the future of conform to the nation’s Constitution lingering trauma of the “Occupy Central” a photo-sharing campaign on Hong Kong with any option”. Thus, “Proj- and the HKSAR Basic Law, nor has he campaign and the violent “black revolu- Instagram. You can share your ect Lazarus” is clearly another self-deter- mentioned the central authorities’ lead- tion”, the people of Hong Kong must be photos by tagging #hk24hr, and mination, or Hong Kong independence, ing role in Hong Kong’s constitutional on high alert for another disruptive cam- we’ll choose the best ones to pub- plot under the guise of a democratic order. Instead of acknowledging these paign put forward by political dema- lish in the newspaper. process. determining factors, “Project Lazarus” gogues such as Tai. Discerning the true The National Security Law has facili- emphasizes only the need for a citywide motives behind his sweet talk will help tated the restoration of the rule of law in “grand democratic debate” on unrestrict- prevent lawlessness from taking over Hong Kong by bringing the persistent, ed options. Obviously, the new plot is our city again. I can fly! violent campaign to an end. This is an playing the same old tune; that is, to turn indisputable fact that Tai cannot twist, the SAR’s high degree of autonomy into The author is a current a airs com- A woman poses beside a wall with a mural in Central. however hard he tries to vilify the law. full autonomy, or to establish a consti- mentator.