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Kahon Chan

The teaching of Hong Kong’s rule of law is “inseparable” from cultivating patriotism, the city’s justice minister has said as he pledged to press on with education to instil people’s love for the country.
Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok stressed on Saturday the importance of integrating education with building patriotism at a seminar marking the 34th anniversary of the promulgation of the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s mini-constitution.
“The education of the constitution and the Basic Law is inseparable from the cultivation of patriotic sentiments and patriotic education, and is also an important part of it,” he said.
Lam said authorities would combine the two to promote love of the country among the public, adding the Department of Justice would continue to incorporate patriotic elements into a youth leadership programme.
To cultivate such sentiment, people must first have a thorough understanding of the country’s past, present and future to establish a solid and rational foundation for patriotism, he said.
Learning about the Basic Law and China’s constitution were good starting points for patriotic education, as they offered historical context of how Hong Kong became occupied by the British and returned to Chinese rule under Beijing’s “one country, two systems” governing principle, the minister told the audience.
Lam also said he believed that patriotism should not be “a passion that was expressed in a moment or at a festive occasion, but an enduring emotion usually hidden in the heart”.

“When the country is developing well and earning high achievements in various fields, people live happier lives and we feel proud. We may not necessarily need to celebrate with loud gongs and drums every time, but we will quietly applaud in our hearts,” he said.
“But if the country does not handle certain things in a satisfactory way and is not doing good enough, we will feel disappointed, worried and sad, resentful.
“We will naturally have a feeling towards everything about our country, whether it is blessing or disaster, joy or sorrow.”
Liu Guangyuan, the deputy director of Beijing’s liaison office in Hong Kong, said at the same event that people from all walks of life must carry forward the tradition of loving the nation and Hong Kong, while continuing to tap into the city’s strengths and supporting the country’s development needs with concrete actions.
The Hong Kong government organised 71 “celebratory events” to mark the founding anniversary of the People’s Republic of China this year, spending an undisclosed amount on the events.
In an answer to lawmakers’ inquiries on Wednesday, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai said 38 of these activities had been completed and enjoyed a high turnout.
The celebratory events included the month-long Mid-Autumn lantern carnivals held at Victoria Park and Tsing Yi Park, which attracted 695,300 visitors, as well as the Belt and Road Summit held in mid-September that was attended by about 6,000 people.
A gardening exhibition in Kowloon Park, named “Let’s Go Green in Celebration of the National Day”, also drew a crowd of 31,000 across four days.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club held two snowball draws for Mark Six lottery tickets, but said there was no record of the number of participants.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced the setting up of a Working Group on Patriotic Education in last year’s policy address. He said that more activities would be organised to foster patriotism in the city.


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Hong Kong

Politics

Understanding the Basic Law and China’s constitution provides historical context of city’s transition from British to Chinese rule, Paul Lam says


Understanding the Basic Law and China’s constitution provides historical context of city’s transition from British to Chinese rule, Paul Lam says.


Hong Kong Basic Law

National education in Hong Kong

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

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Understanding the Basic Law and China’s constitution provides historical context of city’s transition from British to Chinese rule, Paul Lam says

Understanding the Basic Law and China’s constitution provides historical context of city’s transition from British to Chinese rule, Paul Lam says