Story highlights 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

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."

"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.

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Photos: China subject prompts Hong Kong protests Photos: China subject prompts Hong Kong protests China subject prompts HK protests – William Chan Wai-lam gestures to say 'no' outside the government's headquarters in Hong Kong on September 7, 2012 during a protest against plans to introduce Chinese patriotism classes. Hide Caption 1 of 8 Photos: China subject prompts Hong Kong protests China subject prompts HK protests – Protesters shout slogans near the government's headquarters in Hong Kong. They say the "Moral and National Education" curriculum amounts to "brainwashing." A booklet called the "The China Model" was distributed to schools in July. It said China's ruling party was "progressive, selfless and united." Hide Caption 2 of 8 Photos: China subject prompts Hong Kong protests China subject prompts HK protests – A student looks on as protesters sit near the government's headquarters in Hong Kong. Demonstrators demanded that the government scrap plans to introduce a compulsory Chinese civic education subject, which it the same evening. Hide Caption 3 of 8 Photos: China subject prompts Hong Kong protests China subject prompts HK protests – Protests included a hunger strike on the steps on the government headquarters. Tents were set up in the days before the start of the 2012 school year in September. Hide Caption 4 of 8 Photos: China subject prompts Hong Kong protests China subject prompts HK protests – Protesters hold placards to express their anger at what they call government attempts to "brainwash" impressionable young minds. Hide Caption 5 of 8 Photos: China subject prompts Hong Kong protests China subject prompts HK protests – C.Y. Leung, the city's chief executive, said Saturday individual schools would have the option to adopt the controversial curriculum called "Moral and National Education." "We're giving the authority to the schools," he said. Hide Caption 6 of 8 Photos: China subject prompts Hong Kong protests China subject prompts HK protests – A student addresses a crowd in front of government headquarters in Hong Kong on Friday, September 7 during a protest against plans to introduce Chinese patriotism classes. Hide Caption 7 of 8 Photos: China subject prompts Hong Kong protests China subject prompts HK protests – Students shout slogans in front of the Central Government Offices in Hong Kong on September 3, 2012. Hide Caption 8 of 8

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.

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 hadn'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.