Foreign English-language teachers working in Hong Kong government schools will need to swear allegiance to the city, officials have ordered, as fears grow about the territorys ability to retain educators in the face of increasing restrictions.
Hong Kong's education bureau said that native-speaking English teachers (NETs) and advisers working in government-run schools must sign a declaration by June 21 in order to continue working.
Since 2020, Hong Kong has applied oath-taking requirements to an increasing number of jobs, mainly those in the public sector, as a way to fulfil Chinese government demands of loyalty.
NETs must declare they will bear allegiance to Hong Kong and uphold the Basic Law, the city's constitutional text, as well as being responsible to the government.
