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“Xi Jinping Thought" Enters Hong Kong Classrooms - China's Regime Continues Push for “Patriotic Education”






As the 2024-2025 academic year begins, Hong Kong's educational landscape is undergoing a profound transformation. The Hong Kong Education Bureau has announced the integration of “patriotic education” (愛國教育) and “Xi Jinping Thought” (習近平思想) into the junior high school curriculum.

Since the crackdown on pro-democracy protests in 2019-2020 and the adoption of the National Security Law (NSL) in June 2020, the Hong Kong Education Bureau has been laying the groundwork for a shift in the school curriculum to bring it in line with the ideology of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

On October 24, 2023, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress in Beijing passed the “Patriotic Education Law of the People's Republic of China" (中华人民共和国爱国主义教育法). The law, which came into effect on January 1, 2024, aims to promote patriotism, national unity and security, as well as cultural identity among the citizens.

In his 2023 Policy Address delivered on October 25, the Beijing-appointed Chief Executive of Hong Kong, John Lee Ka-chiu (李家超) emphasised the rollout of patriotic education, stating: “We will roll out patriotic education to enhance national identity and appreciation of the richness and beauty of the traditional Chinese culture amongst the people of Hong Kong, laying a good foundation for our national unity and solidarity. We will also integrate patriotic education into our education system.”

On July 15, the Hong Kong Education Bureau announced the release of the Primary Education Curriculum Guide (PECG) prepared by the Curriculum Development Council (CDC) for schools' implementation in the 2024/25 school year.

The comprehensive 126-page guide mandates that ninth-grade students study “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era” and the “Socialist System with Chinese Characteristics.” These new subjects will replace previous topics such as “Global Citizenship Awareness” and “International Political Landscape.” Teachers must devote a total of 12 lessons to the new module. Each lesson is 40 minutes long.

In 2012, Hong Kong witnessed widespread protests against the proposed introduction of a "National Education" curriculum. The controversy began when the Hong Kong government announced plans to integrate mandatory national education classes into public schools.

On July 29 of that year, approximately 90,000 people marched in protest, asserting that the curriculum aimed to “brainwash” students and promote loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party. The curriculum included materials that glorified the Party while downplaying historical events like the Tiananmen Square massacre and the Cultural Revolution. Protesters chanted slogans such as “No thought control! Preserve one country, two systems!”

As protests intensified, the Hong Kong government ultimately backed down. On September 8, 2012, then-Chief Executive Leung Chun-Ying (梁振英) announced that the national education programme would be voluntary instead of mandatory.

Since the Chinese Communist regime imposed the National Security Law on Hong Kong in June 2020, Hong Kong citizens can no longer freely protest and oppose the government.

Under the new law, the Hong Kong government arrested 292 individuals, of whom 159 were charged and 71 convicted, dealing a significant blow to Hong Kong’s once vibrant and politically engaged civil society.

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Sources:



https://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E7%BF%92%E8%BF%91%E5%B9%B3%E6%80%9D%E6%83%B3-%E7%B4%8D%E5%85%A5%E9%A6%99%E6%B8%AF%E5%88%9D%E4%B8%AD%E8%AA%B2%E7%A8%8B-%E6%B8%AF%E4%BA%BA%E6%86%82-%E7%9C%9F%E9%A6%99%E6%B8%AF%E4%BA%BA%E5%B0%87%E6%B6%88%E5%A4%B1-091012504.html


https://www.hk01.com/%E6%95%99%E8%82%B2%E7%99%BC%E5%B1%95/1043728/%E5%88%9D%E4%B8%AD%E5%85%AC%E7%B6%93%E7%A7%91%E6%8C%87%E5%BC%95%E5%87%BA%E7%88%90-%E5%A2%9E%E6%84%9B%E5%9C%8B%E4%B8%BB%E7%BE%A9%E6%95%99%E8%82%B2-%E4%B8%AD%E4%B8%89%E5%AD%B8-%E7%BF%92%E8%BF%91%E5%B9%B3%E6%80%9D%E6%83%B3


https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/htm/hk-course-08012024024545.html


https://www.gov.cn/yaowen/liebiao/202310/content_6911481.htm


https://www.chinadailyhk.com/hk/article/357949


https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Lee-government-official


https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202407/15/P2024071500342.htm


https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/30/world/asia/thousands-protest-chinas-curriculum-plans-for-hong-kong-schools.html


https://edition.cnn.com/2012/07/30/world/asia/hong-kong-national-education-controversy/index.html


https://www.chinafile.com/tracking-impact-of-hong-kongs-national-security-law
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