This came ahead of today's proposed class boycott at universities by members of the Hong Kong Federation of Students who describe the subject as mere brainwashing.

The boycott by about 1,000 students was planned before Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying on Saturday scrapped the three-year deadline for the subject to be made mandatory at schools.

An Education Bureau spokesman yesterday announced the controversial contemporary China section would be removed from teaching guidelines that measure amongst other things students' "emotional fervor" for the motherland.

The spokesman said the latest move is not political, and reiterated the government will allow full autonomy for schools to decide what materials they will use.

"In view of the chief executive saying that the government is willing to re-examine the `Moral and National Education Curriculum Guide,' and make the necessary amendments, the secretary for education has asked Professor Kenneth Young, chairman of the Curriculum Development Council, to discuss and examine carefully the guidelines," he added.

Federation general-secretary Samuel Li Sing- hong said the group does not fully trust the government and will press ahead with the four-hour class boycott today.

CANDY CHAN