News - South China Morning Post
· collected 2026-09-03 · by Danny Mok
A Hong Kong charity called Po Leung Kuk has cancelled a student design contest due to public outcry over its directive for pupils to draw inspiration from objects linked to domestic abuse. The contest, intended to promote family harmony, had asked primary school students to transform household items such as kitchen knives and belts into "weapons of love". The event was scheduled to run from August 15 to October 15 with winning designs printed on reusable bags. The charity thanked the public for their feedback and reaffirmed its commitment to opposing domestic violence.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-03,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Po Leung Kuk, a leading Hong Kong charity that provides support services for families, has cancelled a student eco-bag design competition due to public backlash. The contest was meant to counter domestic violence and promote family harmony by encouraging students to transform objects commonly associated with abuse into non-violent expressions of love. However, critics argued that the contest's directive was misguided and could perpetuate the very issues it aimed to address. The charity, which received funding from the Social Welfare Department, acknowledged that the event may have caused concern and apologized for any misunderstanding. Instead, the charity plans to continue promoting family harmony through more suitable campaigns.
Written for “Hong Kong Student Contest” on 2026-09-03,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
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Leaning score -0.35 for article 3438 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-03
Outcry over ‘weapons of love’ forces Hong Kong charity to scrap student contest
Po Leung Kuk calls off student eco-bag design competition intended to promote family harmony and counter domestic abuse
A leading Hong Kong charity has called off a student eco-bag design contest meant to counter domestic violence following public backlash over its directive for pupils to draw inspiration from objects commonly linked to household abuse.
asserted
pupils → force → abuse
Po Leung Kuk confirmed on Thursday that it had scrapped the competition, which was organised by its family crisis support service and funded by the Social Welfare Department.
asserted
which → confirm → Department
The charity said the event “might have caused misunderstanding and concern”, although its original intent was to encourage transforming conflicts into non-violent expressions of love.
uncertain
intent → say → love
The charity thanked the public for their feedback, reaffirmed its commitment to opposing domestic violence and promised to continue promoting family harmony through more appropriate campaigns.
asserted
charity → thank → campaigns
According to the now-cancelled contest’s promotional material, primary school pupils were invited to turn household items often associated with domestic violence in Hong Kong – including kitchen knives, belts, insecticide, wine bottles, clothes hangers and umbrellas – into cartoon mascots as “weapons of love”.
uncertain
pupils → accord → love
The contest was originally scheduled to run from August 15 to October 15 this year, with winning designs to be printed on reusable bags and distributed to schools.
asserted
designs → schedule → schools
Promotional slogans included “Rather than using a sharp knife [to attack], slice fruit instead and share the sweetness” and “Rather than spraying insecticide, extinguish sharp tongues with praise”.
asserted
slogans → include → praise
