Native-speaking English teachers in Hong Kong government schools told to declare allegiance to city or face dismissal
- Education Bureau says teachers employed on non-civil service terms should sign a declaration pledging to uphold city’s mini-constitution just as government staff do
- Bureau warns that any ‘neglect, refusal or failure’ to sign and return declaration will result in it taking action to end person’s employment
Native-speaking English teachers (NETs) and advisers in government schools must declare their allegiance to Hong Kong or they may face dismissal, the Education Bureau has warned.
“The requirement for non-civil service government staff to sign a declaration is an open acknowledgement of the acceptance and a genuine manifestation of the responsibilities of and expectations on them,” a bureau spokesman said.
The spokesman said the requirement would further safeguard and promote the core values that should be upheld by all government employees, and ensure effective governance.
The bureau warned that any “neglect, refusal or failure” to sign and return the declaration would result in it taking action to end the person’s employment.
Those whose contracts continued or were starting in the coming school year were told of the requirement on May 31 and to return the signed declaration by June 21, it added.
All civil servants have since October 2020 had to sign a declaration that they will uphold the Basic Law, bear allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, be dedicated to their duties and be responsible to the government.
