During her tenure as Subsidized Secondary Schools Council chair, large-scale protests erupted in the city. Poon was criticised for not signing a petition for an independent commission of inquiry. She later supported an independent commission of inquiry but on the arrest of teenagers. In the speech, she called on the Hong Kong authorities to rescue the institutions and livelihood, and hoped the Chinese Government not to give up on Hong Kong. She also claimed the fear of China for suppressing freedom of speech stems from bandwagon effect. She had contacted the police after "Glory to Hong Kong", the iconic song during protests, was heard from near the school she led.
