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Tuesday, Mar 19, 2024

China isn't just after Hong Kong's protesters. It wants the city's children

If similar 'national security education' activities on the mainland are anything to go by, China's Government now has the legal basis to begin patriotic classes for Hong Kong's next generation, writes Bill Birtles.

There is a lot to decipher in the 66 articles of China's sweeping new national security law for Hong Kong, but one of the key things that stands out is Clause 10:

"The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall carry out national security education through schools, social organisations, the media and the Internet etc to develop national security education, to raise the national security awareness and law-abiding awareness of the residents."

Like much of the law that was imposed on Hong Kong's 7.5 million people without consultation or even the chance to read it, the details are vague.

Ahead of the law's unveiling, Hong Kong's Education Secretary Kevin Yeung said that national security education programs would be added to school curriculums.

According to Mr Yeung, it would help Hong Kong students "live and grow in the city, and develop their career on the mainland", according to the South China Morning Post.

"It has nothing to do with politics," he said.

No further details have emerged since the law was enacted on June 30.

But if similar 'national security education' activities on the mainland are anything to go by, China's Government now has the legal basis to begin patriotic classes for the next generation that teach acceptance of authoritarian policies.


Patriotism classes are a big part of Chinese childhood


April 15 is China's 'National Security Education Day' and as part of it, lectures are held in schools and universities about 12 topics, including 'political security', 'internet security' and 'culture security', according to state media.

"Political security concerns the safety of the Communist Party and the nation," reads a state media educational poster.

"Internet security" teaches acceptance and justification of China's repressive censorship rules.

A government poster explains: "A safe, stable, flourishing cyberspace has great significance for every country and the world".

The activities to mark the day were largely scuttled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

But they usually instil a deep sense of national pride.

Consider the words of Wang Yi, the deputy head of a Marxism school at Chongqing's University of Science and Engineering, after 2019's National Security Education Day:

"After watching this propaganda education, I feel deeply as a college teacher I need to pay more attention to my words and behaviour to firmly instil the perspective of national security in every student," he told state television.

That year, Chongqing authorities marked the day by organising a group of students to hold placards with national security slogans while singing the patriotic song 'Me and My Motherland' on the street.


Some Hongkongers fear education will change


Hongkongers who support independence or autonomy for the city fear the law means those same classes are inevitable for their children.

"It's political indoctrination for students," Tin Fong Chak from the Hong Kong Professional Teachers Union told the ABC.

A teacher of Liberal Studies — a compulsory course criticised by some pro-government figures as encouraging protests — thought national security teachings would likely be additional to other subjects.

"Maybe they'll issue a new syllabus or a new subject," he said, while declining to be named due to concerns over safety of speaking out under the new law.

With Hong Kong schools in catch-up mode after four months of class suspension, it's unlikely any new classes or programs in schools would begin before September, the teacher said.


China's patriotism plans may not stop with schools


The vague nature of the wording in the legislation about other changes is fuelling concerns in the city.

Article 54, for example, talks of the Chinese government's new National Security Commission in Hong Kong "strengthening management and services for foreign and international organisations, NGOs and media" in the city.

That has raised concerns about the potential for media censorship down the track.

Already, one English-language outlet, RTHK, has started using asterisks in some of its social media headlines to obscure the slogan 'Liberate Hong Kong', after a government figure warned it could be viewed as a secession crime under the new law.

Assurances from officials in both Beijing and Hong Kong that freedom of speech will be protected within the limit of the law isn't providing much comfort.

Already, Hong Kong's teachers are on edge after dozens were warned — and even one teacher dismissed — over comments or involvement in last year's protests.

Ninety per cent of teachers surveyed by the Hong Kong Professional Teacher's Union in a recent survey said they're "not confident" of their professional autonomy.

And more than 90 per cent weren't confident about Hong Kong's education department.

Mr Tin said the same survey found 80 per cent of teachers were posting less on social media in their personal capacity and they're trying to avoid teaching "sensitive issues" in the classroom.

"It's the chilling effect," he said.

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