Christine Choi

In this Hong Kong name, the surname is Choi. In accordance with Hong Kong custom, the Western-style name is Christine Choi and the Chinese-style name is Choi Yuk-lin.
The Honourable
Christine Choi
JP
蔡若蓮
Choi in 2016
Secretary for Education
Incumbent
Assumed office
1 July 2022
Preceded byKevin Yeung
Under Secretary for Education
In office
2 August 2017 – 30 June 2022
Preceded byKevin Yeung
Succeeded byJeff Sze
Personal details
Born (1966-09-26) 26 September 1966 (age 58)
British Hong Kong
Spouse
Poon Hei-yan
​
(m. 1990)​
Children2 sons, including Peter Choi (died in 2017)
Alma materHong Kong Baptist University (BA, MA)
Chinese University of Hong Kong (MA, MEd, Ed.D.)
WebsiteChristine Choi on Facebook

Christine Choi Yuk-lin (Chinese: 蔡若蓮; born 29 September 1966), is the current Secretary for Education in Hong Kong, formerly the principal of Fukien Secondary School (Siu Sai Wan) [zh; zh-yue] and vice-chairlady of Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers.

Choi ran in two elections in 2016 but was both defeated.[1] She was also appointed as government committee members.[2] Her negative remarks on Cantonese, the mother language of Hongkongers, was slammed by some critics.

Early career

[edit]

Choi graduated from Workers' Children Secondary School (Primary Section) (旺角勞工子弟學校小學部) in 1979, and Christian Alliance College [zh] in 1985.[3] After graduating with a bachelor in Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), Choi continued her academic path in the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) for studying education and linguistics, and in HKBU for Chinese language and literature.[4]

After becoming an educational worker, Choi worked as teachers in various schools and as visiting professors for three universities in China,[5] and later joined the Education Bureau.[6] While in the Bureau, Choi called for the Chinese professionals to station in Hong Kong schools to promote Mandarin.[7] In September 2013, Choi was appointed as the principal of Fukien Secondary School (Siu Sai Wan).[8]

Choi was also the vice-chairlady of Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers (HKFEW), a pro-Beijing union,[9][10] while writing in Ta Kung Pao, a newspaper some described as the Beijing mouthpiece, and other newspaper commenting on educational issues.[11]

Political career

[edit]

Defeat in elections

[edit]

In June 2016, Choi announced to run as an independent candidate in the legislative election through the education constituency. She slammed both then-Education Secretary Eddie Ng and pan-democracy MP for education constituency Ip Kin-yuen for doing nothing.[12] Her election campaign was marred by law-breaking accusation and was probed by the police for "technical mistakes".[13] Choi was defeated after receiving 28% of votes.[14][15]

Later that year in November, Choi ran in the Election Committee election which would select the Chief Executive. While once again defeated with 23% of votes only, she received second most votes amongst the pro-Beijing candidates.[16]

Education Undersecretary

[edit]

In June 2017, media reported Choi could be appointed as the Under Secretary for Education.[17] Her pro-Beijing background was questioned while pro-democracy camp and other critics said her election defeats marked her unpopularity.[18] Politihk Social Strategic and other pro-Beijing organisations, on the other hand, supported the appointment for "depoliticising" education.[19] The appointment was later announced by the Government in August 2017, confirming the reports.[20] She therefore resigned as secondary school principal and vice-chairmanship of HKFEW.[8]

Education Secretary

[edit]

Choi was promoted to the Education Secretary on 1 July 2022 succeeding Kevin Yeung.[21] Her appointment came after the overhaul of education environment, including the political test for new teachers and the introduction of patriotic education.

Putonghua

[edit]

Some expressed concern as she downplayed the role of Cantonese, the mother language of Hongkongers, and emphasized on Chinese Mandarin. Choi once claimed in 2014 Cantonese is only a dialect of China and not an official language, spurring criticism and Choi eventually apologized.[22] Within a month after assuming office, Choi advocated all schools in Hong Kong to teach Chinese Language in Mandarin instead of the mostly-used Cantonese, and said not speaking Mandarin is "disadvantageous".[23][24] A survey done in August 2022 showed that over 70% of 18-29 year olds disagreed with teaching Putonghua in school.[25]

National security

[edit]

In August 2022, after more than 50% of CUHK students walked out of a national security seminar during their orientation, Choi said the students should treasure the learning opportunity.[26]

In August 2022, Choi also said new public school teachers must pass a Basic Law test, including topics on national security.[27]

In September 2022, a survey of teachers and principals showed that less than 30% of them considered the national security education program as effective.[28]

COVID-19

[edit]

On 27 August 2022, Choi said that if COVID-19 cases continued to rise in Hong Kong, secondary schools may be banned from having full-day in-person classes.[29] A day later, in response, school principals urged the government to maintain full-day classes, against Choi's idea.[30] A medical expert, also serving as Chair Professor of Paediatrics at the University of Hong Kong, also said that face to face classes should not be suspended.[31] Chu Kwok-keung, a lawmaker, also commented and said it would be "more dangerous" if schools were reduced from full-day classes to half-day classes.[32]

Choi also said that schools would need to provide the Education Bureau with vaccination data on their students, but that the data would not be published.[27]

An SCMP editorial discussed a recent trend of higher suicide rates among students in Hong Kong, and said experts believe the higher rate was linked to the city's pandemic measures, including school closures and moving to half-day classes instead of full-day classes.[33]

In October 2022, SCMP reported that schools will have relaxed vaccine requirements, after the Education Bureau faced "pressure" from lawmakers, who criticized the government for not providing a timeline on resumption of normal school schedules.[34]

In December 2022, Choi announced that full-day in-person classes would resume regardless of vaccination rates, dropping the previous requirement that 90% of students be vaccinated.[35]

Teachers

[edit]

In September 2022, Hong Kong Free Press reported that the latest government figures showed more than 4,000 teachers quit their jobs in the past school year, a 5-year high and 70% increase from the year before.[36] Choi said that there was a "slightly higher" attrition rate.[36] On 13 September 2022, the Hong Kong Association of the Heads of Secondary Schools appealed to Chief Executive John Lee, stating that there was serious brain drain of teachers, and that the situation is worse than previously reported.[37]

In October 2022, Choi said that guidelines had been drafted that "will state clearly what teachers should and should not do, as well as some serious, unacceptable red lines."[38] On 25 October 2022, Choi said that her department wanted to protect students from being bullied or insulted by teachers.[39]

In December 2022, after guidelines were released that said teachers should protect national security, Choi was asked whether it would contribute to more teachers quitting their jobs; Choi responded by saying teachers quit for different reasons.[40]

Personal life

[edit]

Choi, a Protestant,[41] was married to Poon Hei-yan in 1990.[42] They had two sons, including Peter Choi, the elder son.[43]

On 7 September 2017, Peter Choi, aged 25 who had depression, committed suicide by jumping.[44][45] The death soon turned into a political issue as two students in the Education University of Hong Kong celebrated his death,[46] which the Chief Executive Carrie Lam strongly condemned.[47] Similar celebratory remarks also appeared on the democracy wall of the City University of Hong Kong.[48]

In July 2022, Choi attended a seminar on learning "the spirit of Xi's important speech."[49]

Electoral performances

[edit]
2016 Legislative Council election: Education
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
PTU Ip Kin-yuen 45,984 71.69 –3.73
Nonpartisan (FEW) Choi Yuk-lin 18,158 28.31
Majority 27,826 43.38
Total valid votes 64,142 100.00
Rejected ballots 1,821
Turnout 65,963 74.80 +4.17
Registered electors 88,185
PTU hold Swing

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "【立會選舉】搶閘出選教育界 福建中學校長斥決策者「堅離地」". Apple Daily. 2016-06-26. Archived from the original on 2016-06-29. Retrieved 2016-06-26.
  2. ^ "Who's Who: positions of Choi, Christine Yuk Lin 蔡若蓮". Webb-site. Retrieved 2022-08-01.
  3. ^ "學校簡介小冊子2011-2012" (PDF). 勞工子弟中學. 2011. Retrieved 2019-08-04.[permanent dead link‍]
  4. ^ "福建中學(小西灣)網頁：校長簡介". Archived from the original on 2016-03-14. Retrieved 2016-03-13.
  5. ^ "蔡若蓮博士" (in Traditional Chinese). 香港學校音樂及朗誦協會. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2019-01-17.
  6. ^ "香港教師夢想基金". Archived from the original on 2016-03-13. Retrieved 2016-03-12.
  7. ^ "曾任教局語文支援組 力推內地專家駐校推普". Ming Pao. 2017-08-01. Archived from the original on 2018-05-10. Retrieved 2017-08-01.
  8. ^ a b "蔡若蓮被指「紅底」 爭議聲中任副教育局長". on.cc東網 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 2017-09-07. Retrieved 2022-08-01.
  9. ^ "蔡若蓮". Archived from the original on 2016-03-13. Retrieved 2016-03-12.
  10. ^ 胡渃澧 (2009-09-03). "凝聚育人智慧 開創教育專業" (PDF). 教聯報 (in Traditional Chinese). 第9期. 香港教育工作者聯會. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-04-29. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
  11. ^ "港媽校長-蔡若蓮". 晴報. Archived from the original on 2016-04-27. Retrieved 2015-12-06.
  12. ^ "【立會選舉】教聯會蔡若蓮獨立參選教育界 狂轟葉建源吳克儉 (15:54)". 明報. 2016-06-26. Archived from the original on 2016-06-26. Retrieved 2016-06-26.
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  15. ^ "蔡若蓮：參選已是勝利 盼教育回歸正軌 - RTHK" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on 2017-07-29. Retrieved 2017-07-29.
  16. ^ "【選委戰】蔡若蓮搶灘教育界 建制派三名單圍攻民主派". 香港01. 2016-11-12. Retrieved 2017-07-28.
  17. ^ 胡家欣 (22 June 2017). "傳蔡若蓮任教育局副局長 恒管校長：不太熟悉 具前線經驗佳". 香港01. Retrieved 2017-06-23.
  18. ^ "網上千人聯署 反對蔡若蓮任教育局副局長". Archived from the original on 2019-06-14. Retrieved 2017-06-22.
  19. ^ "逾萬人聯署挺蔡若蓮". paper.wenweipo.com (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Archived from the original on 2017-10-18. Retrieved 2017-10-18.
  20. ^ "Appointment of Under Secretaries and Political Assistants (with photos)". www.info.gov.hk. Retrieved 2022-08-01.
  21. ^ "Principal Officials of Sixth-term HKSAR Government appointed (with photos)". www.info.gov.hk. Retrieved 2022-08-01.
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  25. ^ Standard, The. "Public split over putonghua for civil servants, students". The Standard. Retrieved 2022-08-29.
  26. ^ Standard, The. "Christine Choi calls for respect after students leave halfway during national security seminar". The Standard. Retrieved 2022-08-14.
  27. ^ a b Standard, The. "Schools to get gold, silver and bronze 'rewards' over jabs". The Standard. Retrieved 2022-08-29.
  28. ^ Standard, The. "Choi eases fears on flag snub fallout". The Standard. Retrieved 2022-11-06.
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  35. ^ Ho, Kelly (2022-12-30). "Covid-19: Hong Kong to allow full-day in-person classes in all schools in February". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  36. ^ a b AFP (2022-09-03). "Brain drain hits Hong Kong's education sector as teachers and students join exodus". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
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  38. ^ "'Red lines to be set out for teachers' - RTHK". news.rthk.hk. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  39. ^ "Teachers' 'moral conduct' bans likely to be for life - RTHK". news.rthk.hk. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
  40. ^ "New rules for teachers are to protect them, says govt - RTHK". news.rthk.hk. Retrieved 2022-12-16.
  41. ^ "蔡若蓮任副局長是用人唯才". Singtao. 2017-08-10. Retrieved 2019-08-04.[permanent dead link‍]
  42. ^ "教育局副局長蔡若蓮長子墮樓亡" (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Citizen News. 2017-09-07. Archived from the original on 2018-12-03. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
  43. ^ Lo, Clifford; Chiu, Peace (7 September 2017). "Son of Hong Kong deputy education minister jumps to his death from 41st-floor flat". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  44. ^ "教育局副局長蔡若蓮長子 擎天半島墮樓亡". Apple Daily. 2017-09-07. Archived from the original on 2017-09-07. Retrieved 2017-09-07.
  45. ^ "教育局副局長蔡若蓮兒子墮樓亡 楊潤雄：與她同行". Hong Kong Economic Journal. 2017-09-07. Archived from the original on 2017-09-07. Retrieved 2017-09-07.
  46. ^ "教大證實民主牆冒犯蔡若蓮字句張貼者為校內學生". 香港電台. 2017-12-15. Archived from the original on 2017-12-17. Retrieved 2017-12-16.
  47. ^ "CE condemns improper remarks appearing on university campuses". www.info.gov.hk. Retrieved 2022-07-31.
  48. ^ 黎靜珊 (2017-09-09). "【蔡若蓮喪子】民主牆現恭喜字句 城大譴責：來歷不明者闖校園". 香港01. Archived from the original on 2019-09-12. Retrieved 2017-09-09.
  49. ^ "Hong Kong sectors rush to hold 'mainland-style' seminars to study Xi Jinping's speech". South China Morning Post. 2022-07-06. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
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