appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Letters

Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words.
President Xi Jinping has described the spirit of the Long March as “a vivid reflection of the revolutionary character of the members of the Communist Party of China”, thereby summing up the nation’s resilience.
National education for Hong Kong youth currently depends on classroom instruction. Although textbooks deliver fundamental knowledge, students’ comprehension might remain fragmented and abstract. They might encounter statements such as “the Red Army fears not the trials of the Long March” and learn about key events, yet they might not understand the sacrifice and perseverance involved.
Immersive study tours can bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical experience. By visiting sites of revolutionary significance and engaging with local communities, students can cultivate a more profound understanding of the Long March and its associated values.
Four areas warrant particular focus. First, study tours should pursue three complementary objectives: knowledge acquisition, emotional engagement and value formation. The design could concentrate on on-site instruction at revolutionary heritage sites. Comparing revolutionary base sites of the past and their contemporary development can help students understand the nation’s progression from hardship to renewal.
Second, patriotic education is most effective when it aligns with students’ cognitive and emotional development. Therefore, the implementation of a tiered study-tour system is recommended. Students should be placed in programmes designed for their particular age group.
Third, to prevent the risk of study tours transforming into mere sightseeing trips, it is crucial that educational activities continue before, during and after the journey.
Finally, consistent institutional support is crucial for the success of regular Long March study tours. The Hong Kong government should coordinate efforts among district committees, district-level organisations and care teams while fostering close collaboration with educational institutions, youth organisations and mainland study tour providers.
As the 90th anniversary of the Long March is being commemorated, it remains a source of inspiration. Retracing the Long March can help Hong Kong youth understand the nation’s history and clarify their responsibilities to Hong Kong and the country, so they may contribute to Hong Kong’s development and support national modernisation.
Ray Gai, member of the Shandong Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and vice-chairman of Sham Shui Po West District Committee
Legislative teeth are needed against social media addiction
I support a social media ban for those under 16 (“‘Addiction is irreversible’: Hong Kong urged to ban under-16s from social media”, August 8).
One only has to watch Adolescence, the cautionary tale about getting teens off social media, to feel the necessity of such legislation.
Puberty is a transformative time, marked by rapid physical and emotional changes. While it can be exciting, it often comes with its own set of challenges. Common problems teens face include bullying, negative self-image and peer pressure, all of which could be compounded by the use of social media platforms.
Those who argue that teenagers should be taught to use social media responsibly instead of avoiding them are missing the point. Algorithms are what keep social media platforms popular.
Toxic content is fed to teens on a regular basis on such platforms, potentially influencing real-life decisions and desensitising them to violence and inappropriate material. Prolonged exposure to such material could harm their mental health. Can education alone turn the tide of the negativity fed to impressionable young minds?
Jason Tang, Tin Shui Wai
A beautiful city starts with respectful people
Your correspondent proposed a “beautiful Hong Kong” campaign (“Towards a beautiful and clean Hong Kong”, August 1).
To lay the foundation for such a campaign, we should start with beautiful minds. Public education efforts should pervade television and other media and reach every household and demographic, so people know to always behave appropriately, politely and respectfully in public areas, our society continues to evolve and everyone becomes more considerate.
Bad habits can be hard to break. We could take a page from the strict smoking ban. Penalties and public awareness would help rein in the black sheep, as a glimmering new Hong Kong awaits on the horizon.
Edmond Pang, Fanling


What Hong Kong educators can learn from Yidan Prize winners

Hong Kong school told to review arrangements after alleged Cantonese video ban

University calls for government funds for shared sites in Northern Metropolis

CUHK instructor triggers backlash over WeChat attendance registration policy

Education in Hong Kong

Send Hong Kong youth on Long March study tours

Performers recreate the autumn of 1934, when residents saw off troops setting off on the Long March, in an outdoor performance in Yudu county, Ganzhou city, Jiangxi province, on July 28. Photo: Xinhua

Hong Kong’s ethnic minority students face a new challenge – Mandarin

People walk past bilingual posters at the Building a Multicultural Workplace Job Fair held by the Labour Department at MacPherson Stadium in Mong Kok in 2025. Photo: Nora Tam

For better mental health, help students connect and build inclusive empathy

Students resume school in Wan Chai in 2022. Photo: Dickson Lee

China’s STEM students turn to Singapore as Western study options shrink

Illustration: Quoc Huy Truong


The National University of Singapore is among the city state’s universities vying to attract the brightest Chinese STEM students. Photo: Handout

US President Donald Trump looks on as he signs executive orders and proclamations in the Oval Office at the White House, in May 2025. Photo: Reuters

Singapore is emerging as a regional hub for science and technology, boosted by scholarship schemes that draw Chinese students into its universities. Photo: AFP

Opinion

Readers discuss how to deepen national education, legislation against social media platforms, and public education


Readers discuss how to deepen national education, legislation against social media platforms, and public education.


National education in Hong Kong

China

Hong Kong

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Readers discuss how to deepen national education, legislation against social media platforms, and public education

Readers discuss how to deepen national education, legislation against social media platforms, and public education