Гонконгский союз средних школьников: история и деятельность

The Hong Kong Secondary Students Union (Chinese characters: 香港中學生聯盟) is a pro democracy student organisation in Hong Kong established in August 2003 by some pro democratic secondary school students of Hong Kong. Formed by various students' associations (SA's) and students' councils (SC's) of secondary schools, it is the third largest politically involved youth organisation in Hong Kong, after the Hong Kong Federation of Students and the Hong Kong Youth and Tertiary Students Association. The HKSSU's stated goals are to study social and political issues from a student's perspective, to speak out on government policies affecting secondary school students, and to raise awareness and sense of responsibility among young people towards social and political issues. Activities include the annual Youth Conference in Hong Kong, as well as participation in various political demonstrations. Advisors to the HKSSU include four barristers, one solicitor, twelve university professors and lecturers, two clergy, one reporter, one accountant, and two doctors.

Secondary school students in Hong Kong were traditionally perceived as being indifferent to politics, until an ad hoc group of secondary students (中學生關注基本法第23條立法聯盟) called about 3000 students to take part in the political demonstration in 2003 against Article 23 of Hong Kong's Basic Law, after noticing heated discussions among students about the proposed legislation. After the demonstration, the ad hoc group reorganised itself and became a registered organisation under the name Hong Kong Secondary Students Union.

The HKSSU was also involved in other activities, including conducting a survey among secondary school students on educational issues (funding cuts in particular) in December 2003; and the issue of various position papers on mostly educational policies. On 1 January 2005, they joined a donation campaign raised by the pro democracy camp, raising funds for people affected by tsunami of South Asia. They established counters in Mong Kok and Causeway Bay, and successfully raised more than $70000. Besides, they also organise the Youth Conference every year.

The Youth Conference is held annually by HKSSU in Hong Kong.

This year, the focus was put on the theme of ""Democratic School", together with some concepts about children rights. It was jointly organised by HKSSU, HKHRM, and Hong Kong Democratic Development Network (HKDDN). The organising committees were mainly filled by some non EXCO Members of HKSSU, together with staff of HKHRM and HKDDN. The directors of Youth Conference 2005 were Ian Leung of HKSSU, Kit Chan of HKHRM and Chris Lo of HKDDN. A 4 day camp was held on 1 August – 4 August 2005, at Chung Chi College of CUHK. A post camp workshop was held the City University of Hong Kong on 13 August and the mock debate was held in Legco on 20 August.

The Executive Committee decided to organise another Youth Conference this summer, with the theme of "unequal distribution of wealth". It was jointly organised by HKSSU, HKHRM, and Hong Kong Democratic Development Network (HKDDN). The organising committees were mainly filled by some non EXCO Members & EXCO Members of HKSSU, together with staff of HKHRM and HKDDN. The chairpersons of Youth Conference 2006 were Ben Chung Kam Lun of HKSSU, Valerie Chan Wing Yin of HKHRM
A 4 day camp was held on 24 July – 27 July 2006, at |uc United College of CUHK. A workshop was held on 12 August 2006 at the HKPTU headquarters and a mock debate.

The union claims to be independent in finance and the administration, and is not sponsored by any political parties. However Human Rights Monitor (hereafter short termed as HRM) and the Democratic Development Network (hereafter short termed as DDN) were just too close to the top profile members of the Union. In 2005, the two factions supporting HRM and DDN respectively started a destructive power struggle, which in fact pushed the Social Democrats to power. The HRM and Social Democratic alliance remained in power until the conservatives took power in November 2006. The Human Rights Monitor is being accused by conservatives and Social Democrats to be "too involved" in union affairs. Even for the liberals, some former executive committee members were quoted to have said that the union would eventually become a puppet of HRM if the Union could not maintain its independence. Since the conservatives took power, co operation and communication between HRM and the Union became more or less symbolic. Mistrust and discontent rose between both organisations.

The union faced with serious factional problems, with two major power struggles since its establishment in 2003. Factional problems hindered the future development of the Union.