Hong Kong schools have been implementing strict measures such as banning books, cautioning teachers against expressing “political” views, educating students on the correct way to raise the Chinese flag, and showing patriotic films as part of their “national security education” program, as revealed in online documents.
The Chinese Communist Party is ramping up its “patriotic education” initiative in institutions across the country, including Hong Kong, where it is known as “national security education.”
Since the beginning of the current academic year, teachers in over 1,000 Hong Kong schools have been mandated to report any potential violations of security laws and ensure the implementation of national security education among staff and students.
Many schools have been documenting their efforts online, showcasing increased surveillance, inspections, and a focus on patriotic activities and celebrations of traditional Chinese culture, endorsed by President Xi Jinping as symbols of national pride and rejuvenation.
At New Territories Heung Yee Kuk Yuen Long District Secondary School, teachers are instructed to avoid promoting personal politics or distorted values in teaching materials, as outlined in the school’s report on its National Security Education program.
Furthermore, the school is conducting inspections of library books and has terminated its subscription to Hyread, an online platform offering reading material in Chinese and English, to prevent any violations of national security laws.
Banned books
Kowloon Technical College has identified and banned seven books in its library for containing political propaganda, as per the school’s report from the previous academic year.
Christian Alliance Cheng Wing Gee College requires teachers to seek approval for teaching materials before use and emphasizes the promotion of national pride in the daily curriculum.
Meanwhile, students at Tai Po Baptist Public School participate in Chinese national flag-raising ceremonies to instill correct values and patriotism.
Several schools have reported training students for patriotic activities like flag-raising competitions and patriotic essay contests, all aligned with the theme of “I Love My Motherland,” as part of their National Security Education program.
The reports also indicate the enforcement of sanctions and penalties for speech offenses within Hong Kong’s schools, especially in relation to national security laws
‘My Country, My People’
Approximately 40% of publicly funded schools in Hong Kong have made their National Security Education reports public, revealing activities such as video promotions for China’s National Day and screenings of patriotic films like “My Country, My People,” as reported by Ming Pao.
Even English-language schools like Chiu Lut Sau Memorial Secondary School are vigilant in reviewing student associations’ political platforms to avoid breaching security laws.
Artist Wu Chun Him, a former drama teacher in Hong Kong, highlighted the restrictions on discussing any negative information about the Chinese government in schools as a direct consequence of the enhanced security measures.
He emphasized the self-censorship that teachers are likely to adopt to avoid legal repercussions, leading to a uniformity in teaching content across schools.
Protecting themselves
Former Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority official Yeung Wing Yu noted the strategic publication of these reports by schools as a form of self-protection against government intervention.
By showcasing their compliance with national security education, schools aim to convey their political safety and prevent any potential interference from authorities.
Yeung also predicted that the expansion of Hong Kong’s Diploma of Secondary Education to mainland Chinese schools could attract more families from China seeking an internationally recognized education.
Translated with additional reporting by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.