An unprecedented decision by a government-run primary school in Hong Kong to allow pupils to use simplified Chinese characters in tests and examinations has sparked a backlash, with more than 200 parents signing a petition opposing what they described as an “unfair” arrangement.

The Education Bureau, which sponsors Shatin Government Primary School, said it had reminded the school that it must fully consult stakeholders before revising its assessment policy. A parent representative accused the school of disregarding parents’ opinions by preventing them from expressing disagreement through its circular.

On Monday, the school issued a circular to parents via its electronic platform, announcing that Primary Two to Six pupils would be allowed to use simplified Chinese characters in their tests and examinations to “cater to the increasingly diverse learning needs of our students”.

“This arrangement aims to provide a more friendly assessment environment for students with mainland backgrounds or those accustomed to using simplified Chinese characters, while also giving local students the opportunity to learn about the two Chinese writing systems, thereby enhancing their reading and communication skills,” the school said.

“Students using simplified Chinese characters will not be penalised or have their grades affected by the font, but they must ensure their handwriting is clear to avoid misunderstandings due to illegible writing.”

Chinese characters can be written in either simplified or traditional forms. Hong Kong uses traditional Chinese, while mainland China adopts the simplified form. Simplified characters contain fewer strokes, so they generally take less time to write than their traditional equivalents.