To whom it may concern,

We, the undersigned, represent Wahyanites (old or current) who express concern on the recent development of affairs in our dear school, Wah Yan College, Hong Kong, and the shrinking of some core values of Wah Yan - among them freedom, respect, and the whole-person - they signal.

The major factor in this petition is the recent cutting-of-mic-provision incident during the Teacher's Day performance on 25 January 2013, on which we feel that deeper problems related to the values of Wah Yan education are exposed.

We hope to recall the liberal, holistic education that gave Wah Yan a competitive edge and made her unique among all schools in Hong Kong. This is the education that nurtured many elites who served Hong Kong. It is time to rethink what "Wah Yan education" means - not just on the part of the school administration, but all teachers and students (and alumni) as well.

This petition and declaration is not directed towards any single person, nor intended for gaining leverage over any specific incident. It is intended as an opportunity for the entire Wah Yan community to reflect on principles and values, and to help build a better future for this school.

Full text of the petition and declaration: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cCyqkwOQw857qiWV_WfBlGpoVv3D9NT2QXlHSySYtU8/edit

Author of petition: Raphael Mak (Class of 2009)
[Personal note: I admit that it might not seem appropriate for me to create a high-profile petition or comment likewise over the cut-mic incident, considering my identity and position in relation to my alma mater. However, having read through the sharp responses over the incident, as well as having discussed with some of my fellow Wahyanites, I feel that somebody has to be courageous enough to speak out in order to prevent the school from suffering a spiral of decline, through the negligence of core values or whatsoever. This is an age of challenges on principles; "appropriateness" of actions must inevitably be prioritized according to the prominence of values.]