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Alice Wu

Educators have received quite a bit of unwanted attention lately. First came a Hong Kong school principal losing his temper during a study trip in Singapore over parking a coach bus. The man was caught on camera hurling abusive language at security guards in the presence of a busload of students.
That lapse of judgment was met with a stern response. The principal eventually tendered his resignation and apologised, admitting his error and trying to use it as his last lesson to his students. The school management committee said it refused to accept his resignation and fired him.
Then came the video clip of a prominent basketball coach forcing a pupil to slap himself in front of other children. Although the incident took place two years ago, the video spread like wildfire on social media. The coach, who has been suspended, also apologised on social media.
It is not surprising that both incidents sparked outrage and debate. Educators are traditionally held in high esteem, expected to set an example for young people and play an outsize role in shaping young minds. Teachers have the moral authority to influence those in their charge and are expected to do so ethically and with integrity. Shouting expletives and corporal punishment are unacceptable.
Some have spoken up in support of these teachers. Responding to the incident involving the basketball coach, lawmaker Junius Ho Kwan-yiu said he is in favour of corporal punishment to some extent. Steel needs to be “beaten” to become hard, Ho said, apparently taking a metaphor used to describe building character through hardship in the literal sense.
For many people, reaching the conclusion that the teachers’ behaviour was unacceptable is easy. Schools are supposed to be safe havens for our children. We expect educators to be gatekeepers and to actively protect children from harm.


Mandatory reporting of child abuse for professionals in some sectors, including the education sector, came into effect in January. The law was put in place after some high-profile cases that shocked the city. Who can forget the five-year-old girl who was tortured before she was murdered by her father and stepmother?
Social Welfare Department figures show an alarming upward trend in child abuse cases, which have risen from 940 cases in 2020 to 1,457 in 2023.
While physical abuse is easier to detect, there are other types of abuse that don’t leave scars on the body. Just as detrimental to children’s development – and maybe more so – are mental and emotional abuse, and they are not easy to identify.
The discussion sparked by the recent cases offers Hongkongers an opportunity to address some of these issues. The two educators in question acted like bullies, and the harm they inflicted could be far-reaching.


Verbal abuse and humiliating children are bullying tactics. The social consensus is that there are better ways to discipline children. The tide shouldn’t be turned back on this, given that the long-term negative impact of discipline by bullying outweighs the immediate effectiveness of such tactics. The problem of bullying – whether it is by children’s teachers, peers or family members – must be addressed.
From time to time, clips of students bullying other students are made public, and we are outraged. We condemn the behaviour, then another clip surfaces and we are indignant again.
University orientation camps that turned into breeding grounds for hazing used to make headlines as well. We must ask where this is coming from. Why are young people so ready to inflict harm when they are in a position of power over others? It’s likely that they emulate what they see from their teachers, peers and parents.

This is where outrage must translate into self-reflection. Children in Hong Kong grow up with pressure to perform academically. Teachers are expected to churn out academically outstanding students.
Physically manhandling students might be frowned up, but how many other questionable tactics have been employed in the pursuit of academic results? How much bullying of students who are struggling academically, physically weaker or just different is condoned in our schools?
Openly sharing exam scores might motivate some to push themselves harder, but it could be demotivating for others. As for children, bullying behaviour cannot be excused as simply growing pains, although children can be cruel.
While we tend to focus on cases of physical abuse, leaving it at that fails to address the core issue. Humiliation lies at the heart of bullying, and even when it’s not physical, damage is still being done.


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Education in Hong Kong

Teachers behaving badly should prompt reflection in Hong Kong

A still from a video in which basketball coach Yung Kam-wah is seen forcing a player to slap himself on the face as a punishment during a training at a secondary school. Photo: Handout

A group of girls confront another girl during an altercation at a Hong Kong housing estate in August 2020. Four teenagers were arrested over the dispute. Photo: YouTube.

Hong Kong principal fired for swearing at security guards on Singapore school trip

Lee Cheuk-hing submitted his resignation letter on May 28, with his requested last day to be August 31. Photo: Handout

San Wui Commercial Society Secondary School said that as the head of the institution, Lee Cheuk-hing was held to a higher standard by parents and the public to set a positive example. Photo: Jelly Tse

Hong Kong basketball coach apologises for slapping pupil in viral video

A basketball coach was seen forcing a boy to slap himself. Photo: Handout

Are Hong Kong teachers, healthcare and social workers more alert to child abuse?

The Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance is expected to come into effect in January 2026. Photo: Getty Images

In 2024-25, the NGO made 20 referrals to other organisations for suspected cases report to its hotline or via drop-in services at its centres. Photo: Getty Images

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Outrage over videos of educators’ bullying behaviour ought to spark introspection on why people act this way


Outrage over videos of educators’ bullying behaviour ought to spark introspection on why people act this way.


Hong Kong youth

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Expresses the views, ideas and conclusions of the author. (Eg. Enough of Crazy Rich Asians, think of crazy poor Hongkongers.)


Teachers behaving badly should prompt reflection in Hong Kong

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Outrage over videos of educators’ bullying behaviour ought to spark introspection on why people act this way

Outrage over videos of educators’ bullying behaviour ought to spark introspection on why people act this way