Hong Kong ( CNN ) -- The Hong Kong government has scrapped plans to introduce a mandatory Chinese civic education subject critics had slammed as pro-mainland propaganda . The decision came on the eve of local elections and after a series of protests including a 10-day hunger strike on the steps of the government headquarters . C.Y . Leung , the city 's chief executive , announced Saturday that individual schools would have the option to adopt the controversial curriculum called `` Moral and National Education . '' Hong Kong school year starts with hunger strikes . `` We 're giving the authority to the schools , '' he said . `` This is very much in line with our school-based education policy . '' A coalition of concern group had protested against the subject which they said amounted to `` brainwashing '' impressionable young minds with pro-mainland Chinese propaganda . The course material had been outlined in a government booklet called `` The China Model , '' which was distributed to schools in July . China 's ruling party is `` progressive , selfless and united , '' the booklet said . It criticized multi-party systems as bringing disaster to countries such as the United States . The booklet also makes no mention of major events that many view as integral to China 's history , such as the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre . Hong Kong has a large degree of autonomy from the Beijing government as part of the agreement made with Britain after the 1997 transfer of power . TIME : Hong Kong 's new leader is divisive figure . Despite the administrative separation from China , Hong Kong 's 7 million residents are not allowed to vote for the territory 's leadership . That role is filled by a chief executive appointed by a small group of specially -selected influential people . However , the territory 's leadership has made moves toward introducing universal suffrage , and on Sunday millions are eligible to vote for 40 seats in the 70-member Legislative Council . The remainder will be appointed by a small group of electors . Leung has denied the government back-down on national education was timed to avoid a voter backlash in Sunday 's election , according to the South China Morning Post ( SCMP ) . `` If it had n't been for the decision of the last administration , national education would not have been on the agenda of this government , '' Leung said . `` I would rather concentrate on housing , poverty and other livelihood issues . I 've held numerous talks with the chief secretary on major policymaking , [ and ] none of our conversations ever touched on national education , '' he added , according to the SCMP . Saturday 's back down follows a number of major protests , the most recent of which was on Saturday when an estimated 100,000 protesters gathered outside government headquarters , according to organizers . More : Saving the 'Hong ' of Hong Kong . CNN 's Alexis Lai contributed to this report .
It 's up to the individual schools , Hong Kong government says . The curriculum is called `` Moral and National Education '' Residents have been angered by the subject matter .