Hong Kong teacher deregistered for distorting history
Updated 15:42, 13-Nov-2020
CGTN
A 19th-century British painting depicts British warships attacking the south China city of Guangzhou. As Lin Zexu, an imperial envoy was enforcing a strict anti-drug policy in Guangdong and burning opium owned by British businessmen, the British government decided to send waeships to attack Guangzhou. /VCG

A 19th-century British painting depicts British warships attacking the south China city of Guangzhou. As Lin Zexu, an imperial envoy was enforcing a strict anti-drug policy in Guangdong and burning opium owned by British businessmen, the British government decided to send waeships to attack Guangzhou. /VCG

The Education Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said on Thursday it has canceled the registration of a primary school teacher who made serious mistakes when teaching a number of historical events.

The teacher was reported by students' parents for distorting historic facts of the Opium War (1840-1842) while teaching at an online class. Among other things, the teacher said Britain had launched the aggressive war against China because it wanted to "destroy opium in China".

The Education Bureau said this was not the only historical event the teacher distorted, described the teachings as absolute nonsense.

"From the perspective of professional teaching, the case involved serious mistakes which reflected that the teacher not only lacked basic competence in teaching but also lacked the proper attitude expected of a teacher," said a spokesman of the bureau.

The bureau said it went through a thorough and stringent investigation procedure and considered the teacher not fit or proper to be a teacher, and thus canceled his teacher registration in accordance with the Education Ordinance of Hong Kong.

(With input from Xinhua)