Hong Kong school withdraws graduation video guideline on Cantonese after backlash

A leading Hong Kong secondary school has expressed regret and withdrawn guidelines accused of banning Cantonese from graduation videos after the policy sparked controversy.

Good Hope School issued a public statement on Monday evening, saying it had heard concerns from the wider community and had “fully and formally withdrawn” the guidance paper for next year’s Form Six graduation class video.

“Good Hope School wishes to state unequivocally that it has never been our ethos to constrain the mother tongue of any child entrusted to our care, and nor shall it ever be. Drawing on our deeply ingrained and cherished culture of biliteracy and trilingualism, we remain dedicated to nurturing young minds,” it said.

“We acknowledge, with profound contrition, that our previous document caused distress, misgiving, and sorrow among our students, parents, alumnae and the wider community. For this lapse, the school bears full responsibility.”