Patriotic education bill to come under NPCSC microscope

The top national legislature will review a bill on patriotic education with specific regulatory content for Hong Kong.

The bill was submitted to the National People's Congress Standing Committee yesterday, which mainly regulates the content, goals, requirements and responsibilities of various departments for patriotic education.

Spokesman for the NPCSC's Legislative Affairs Commission Zang Tiewei said the bill specifies the utilization of various resources, facilities and platforms to carry out patriotic education and measures to safeguard such education.

State media reported that the bill will have specific regulations on patriotic education for people in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau and Chinese diaspora.

Zang said promoting patriotic education was in accordance with the Constitution of the People's Republic of China and "citizens have the duty to safeguard national unity and the unity of all ethnic groups in the country, and to safeguard the security, honor and interests of the country."

He added: "We will continue to collect the public's views and suggestions through various channels and ways, to modify and improve the bill, promote and explain the legal provisions, and better promote the spirit of patriotism."

Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies consultant Lau Siu-kai said it is uncertain whether the bill would cover Hong Kong, but the SAR should make reference to its implementation in the mainland and promote local education in understanding the importance of national history and culture, sovereignty, unity and national identity.

"Some major historical events, such as the Opium War, which was Britain's invasion of China, should not be simplified to 'trade disputes,' " he said.

Education sector lawmaker Chu Kwok-keung said Hong Kong now has relevant patriotic education material in primary and secondary schools, such as the Citizenship and Local Development Curriculum for secondary four to six students.

He said it is a crucial to strengthen patriotic education especially after the 2019 social unrest, but the key is to implement it effectively.

"If the bill is passed, the Education Bureau should first study what is existing in Hong Kong's patriotic education, and what is new, to allow the schools to develop specific curricula," Chu said.

Meanwhile, the bureau sent letters to all kindergarten principals to promote a series of Pearl of the Orient music videos to celebrate the SAR's 26th anniversary.

Some 500 students from 18 primary schools in 18 districts were invited to participate in the production with the support from Hong Kong Island School Heads Association, Kowloon Region School Heads Association and New Territories School Heads Association.

The bureau said the song written by Lo Ta-yu and Cheng Kwok-kong in 1986 was chosen "to extend our best wishes to our country and Hong Kong" and hope the students could "strengthen their sense of national identity and belonging to the country."

stacy.shi@singtaonewscorp.com