Students claimed school prevented them spreading political messages by drafting new rules against distribution of leaflets
A Catholic school in Hong Kong was forced to shut its doors during an open day on Saturday after students distributed leaflets, accusing teachers of suppressing freedom of speech.
The school closed its gates as students chanted slogans through amplifiers while others distributed leaflets claiming they had been “suppressed” by Our Lady’s College in Wong Tai Sin and listing what, in their view, was wrong with Hong Kong society.
Although they were not on campus, teachers asked them to cover their uniforms to avoid giving the impression the school endorsed their actions.
On live footage on their Facebook page, the students claimed the school had prevented them spreading political messages, such as opposition to government legal action against Occupy leader Joshua Wong Chi-fung, by drafting new rules against the distribution of leaflets.
Further away, a dozen supporters from two fledgling pro-localism groups – Hong Kong National Front and Studentlocalism – gathered to support the students.
Plain-clothes police took ID card numbers, according to Tony Chung Hon-lam, convenor of Studentlocalism.
