Parents' white-paper petition 'for next generation'

A parents' group has launched an online petition against the State Council's white paper on Hong Kong, saying it breaks the promises that Beijing made in the Sino-British Joint Declaration and Basic Law.

"As parents who grew up and raised our children in Hong Kong, if we don't take action to defend 'one country, two systems', we'll be ashamed to face our next generations," said Eva Chan Sik-chee, convenor of the Parents' Concern Group on National Education.

The group fought off plans for compulsory national education in schools in 2012.

The subject, aimed at instilling in pupils a sense of belonging towards the motherland, was condemned by critics as brainwashing.

She said parents feared that the Beijing report would harm children's understanding of the "one country, two systems" policy as it "has reinterpreted the policy and undermined Hong Kong's judicial independence".

"It's clearly stated in the Basic Law and the joint declaration that Hong Kong enjoys ... executive, legislative, independent judicial power and final adjudication," she said. "But the white paper mentioned 'comprehensive jurisdiction' - something that we've never heard before."