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National education in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong government has sought since 2007 to introduce "national education" courses to strengthen "national identity awareness" and nurture patriotism towards China. The programme has drawn public opposition in recent years, with many in Hong Kong seeing it as a brainwashing attempt by the Chinese Communist Party to suppress dissent.

last updated:

9 September, 2024

PLA Navy ship Hainan docks in Kennedy Town. Photo: Eugene Lee

Hong Kong politics

Chinese navy to make regular visits to Hong Kong, in move praised by analysts

Analysts say presence of PLA Navy ships will show country’s military might to residents and improve sense of national identity and pride.

28 Nov 2024 - 10:42PM

Hong Kong politics

Teaching Hong Kong’s rule of law and fostering patriotism are ‘inseparable’: minister

26 Oct 2024 - 10:56PM

China’s Communist Party

Xi lobs warning to ‘separatists’ across Taiwan Strait in National Day speech

1 Oct 2024 - 3:45PMvideocam

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Hong Kong society

Hong Kong to hold record number of National Day events, but do they fit the vibe?

City’s districts spend more on China’s 75th-anniversary celebrations, but some events raise eyebrows.

30 Sep 2024 - 10:15AM

A Post check has found that public funds allocated to districts for National Day celebrations have increased substantially over the past five years. Photo: Dickson Lee

Hong Kong politics

Hong Kong museum to showcase medals from local, mainland Chinese Olympians

Display at Museum of History part of exhibition marking anniversary of country’s establishment, with Science Museum to also host exhibits.

26 Sep 2024 - 11:01PM

Education in Hong Kong

Opinion | Why learning to love China isn’t like any other school subject

Patriotic education needs a clear approach or it risks failing like previous efforts. Teachers must be prepared and students must know what they are expected to learn.

22 Sep 2024 - 9:30AMvideocam

Education in Hong Kong

Hong Kong students ‘should sing national anthem with emotion’ on return to school

Education chief Christine Choi issues reminder before first day of academic term, with flag-raising ceremonies expected at schools.

1 Sep 2024 - 6:58PM

Authorities have advised schools to hold a national flag-raising ceremony on important occasions, including the first day of school. Photo: Felix Wong

Hong Kong economy

Letters | Hong Kong must radiate ideas, not replicate them

Readers suggest focus areas for Hong Kong’s reform road map, how the Olympics have helped nurture patriotism, and the Western media’s narrative on the city

27 Aug 2024 - 11:30AM

Education in Hong Kong

Hong Kong pupils to learn more Communist Party history on mainland China trips

Education Bureau says cross-border trips in coming school year will include visits to museums and sites of historical relevance to the party.

26 Aug 2024 - 9:55PM

Education in Hong Kong

Hong Kong teachers accused of lacking knowledge of national security education

Education Bureau says some schools fail to integrate national security elements into other subjects, and also highlights problems elsewhere.

23 Aug 2024 - 8:55PM

S.K.H. Holy Cross Primary School in Kowloon City, which was criticised for failing to use all the resources for national security education. Photo: Dickson Lee

Education in Hong Kong

Hong Kong school religion classes to have responsibility to country, media content

Junior secondary pupils to be taught about responsibility to country, media objectivity and environment under new 217-page curriculum.

17 Aug 2024 - 10:33PM

Junior secondary schoolchildren are to get responsibility to country and media analysis added to the religious studies curriculum. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Education in Hong Kong

First batch of Hong Kong ethnic minority pupils depart for mainland China tour

Pupils using new five-year travel permits for permanent residents with foreign passports to take tour to better understand nation.

12 Aug 2024 - 9:13PM

China’s Communist Party

Communist Party exhibitions lean on honour and obligation among young Chinese

Museums seek to inspire students with stories of the party’s early days – but not everybody is won over.

11 Aug 2024 - 4:58PMvideocam

Education in Hong Kong

Hong Kong revamps school guides for visual arts, music to foster national security

Education Bureau suggests traditional Chinese painting theory be used as criteria for assessing pupils’ artwork, among other new emphases.

9 Aug 2024 - 5:52PM

A statue of Confucius. The new guide on visual arts includes aesthetics of Confucian and Taoist culture, and suggests teachers use traditional Chinese painting theory as a criteria of for assessing pupils’ artwork. Photo: Shutterstock

Hong Kong politics

Hong Kong’s No 2 official compares patriotic education with dating a girl

‘You have to get to know the country before identifying with it, eventually being able to love and safeguard it,’ Eric Chan says.

13 Jul 2024 - 8:11PM

A child waves a mainland Chinese flag while on a ferry from Wan Chai to Tsim Sha Tsui. Photo: Eugene Lee

Education in Hong Kong

Hong Kong officials defend criticism of special needs school over patriotic classes

Social media users earlier slammed Education Bureau for urging school to ensure more teachers were equipped to teach national security topics.

27 Jun 2024 - 2:03AM

Education in Hong Kong

Some Hong Kong pupils singing national anthem too softly, school inspectors say

Comments were made in a new batch of 10 external review reports on schools.

25 Jun 2024 - 7:54PM

Crime in Hong Kong

Hundreds of Hong Kong police to look out for Tiananmen anniversary activities

Sources say police will ramp up their presence on Tuesday at sensitive locations.

4 Jun 2024 - 5:15PMvideocam

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Police officers were out in force in Causeway Bay on Monday evening. Photo: Sam Tsang

Hong Kong society

Editorial | A softer approach to national education is step in right direction

For Hong Kong, as elsewhere, focusing on inspiration rather than imposition is the way forward to instil patriotism.

27 May 2024 - 5:00AM

Education in Hong Kong

More effort needed to get Hong Kong pupils to study Chinese history, expert says

Having just 13 per cent of pupils taking DSE exam in subject is ‘far from ideal’, says Ho Hon-kuen of the Centre of National History Education (Hong Kong).

19 May 2024 - 7:37PM

Education in Hong Kong

Beijing asks Hong Kong tertiary institutions to step up patriotic education

Xia Baolong meets Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin and representatives of 22 tertiary education bodies during their trip to Beijing.

11 May 2024 - 9:57AM

Xia Baolong, the director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, meets Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin and representatives of 22 Hong Kong tertiary education bodies during their trip to Beijing. Photo: Handout

Hong Kong society

Letters | Why citizenship subject will fail to cultivate patriotism in Hong Kong students

Readers discuss the pass-fail grading system for the citizenship and social development DSE exam, and teachers’ approach in the classroom amid concerns about student mental health.

6 May 2024 - 11:30AM

Students take part in a flag-raising ceremony at a school in Ho Man Tin on July 1, 2020. Photo: May Tse

Hong Kong society

Hong Kong No 2 official calls for soft approach to instil patriotism among students

Chief Secretary Eric Chan says authorities and schools can use film culture, mega sports events and exchanges such as visits to aerospace facilities to carry out national education.

29 Apr 2024 - 9:46PM

Hong Kong's national security law

Hong Kong to teach new course on nation’s struggles to civil servants

Course, to be offered to middle and senior-level government workers, part of broader ‘mindset building’ push.

22 Apr 2024 - 10:51PM

Hong Kong politics

Call for Hongkongers to learn about socialism given Communist Party achievements

Patriotic education will help Hongkongers understand nation’s history, culture, achievements and governance, says Starry Lee.

21 Apr 2024 - 4:28PM

Hong Kong school pupils participate in a flag-bearing competition. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Education in Hong Kong

Hong Kong authorities publish first patriotic school materials for English classes

Authorities published new teaching materials for use in primary and secondary school English classes in run up to National Security Education Day earlier this week.

20 Apr 2024 - 4:46PM

Students at Gertrude Simon Lutheran College attend a flag-raising ceremony during National Security Education Day earlier this week. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Education in Hong Kong

Over 45,000 students in Hong Kong sit first citizen and social development exam

New subject curriculum replaces controversial liberal studies and focuses on national security as well as China’s development.

16 Apr 2024 - 8:07PM

Education in Hong Kong

Patriotism working group in Hong Kong may adopt innovative approach

‘We want the new generation to really appreciate our Chinese culture, our Chinese history and also the contemporary developments of our country,’ city leader says.

10 Apr 2024 - 8:30AM

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