LCQ15: Patriotic education

Government enhances patriotic education efforts through collaboration with community groups, utilization of mainland resources, and military equipment exhibitions

Following is a question by the Hon Stanley Ng and a written reply by the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, in the Legislative Council today (July 3):

Question:

On April 29 this year, the Working Group on Patriotic Education held its first meeting and decided to set up four sub-groups (i.e. school education; local community; history, politics, economy and culture; and media publicity) to carry out patriotic education work. There are views that history, politics, economy and culture are significant aspects, and in particular, the history of the War of Resistance (the War) is an important resource for patriotic education. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the number of patriotic education bases or organizations subvented by the Government in Hong Kong; the patriotic education activities held by these bases and organizations, and whether it has assessed the effectiveness of such activities;

(2) as it is learnt that many patriotic groups in the community have taken the initiative to organize various patriotic education activities and even established their own patriotic education centres, of the amount of resources allocated or to be allocated by the Government for collaboration with patriotic forces in the community including district organizations and patriotic trade unions, and whether it has formulated corresponding performance indicators; how the Government will make better use of patriotic forces in the community to promote patriotic education;

(3) as there are many patriotic education demonstration bases, as well as memorial halls and museums of the War on the Mainland, and there are also valuable resources for patriotic education such as the Opium War Museum in Humen, Dongguan and the Dongjiang Column Memorial Hall in Shenzhen, how the Government will make use of such resources to promote the development of patriotic education in Hong Kong (e.g. whether there are specific plans, cooperation directions and cooperation targets);

(4) as there are views that the numerous relics and heritages related to the history of the War in Hong Kong are important resources for patriotic education, whether the Government has formulated a list of these education resources; if so, whether it can provide the list to this Council; how the Government will make planning for, consolidate and utilize these education resources to promote patriotic education in Hong Kong; and

(5) whether the Government will consider organizing model exhibitions of the country's military equipment to revisit history while showcasing the country's increasing strength through the evolution and development of military equipment and China-made equipment used in major battles by the country and Hong Kong, so as to strengthen national and patriotic education; if so, of the details of the relevant plan; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

Having consulted relevant bureaux and departments, the consolidated reply to the question raised by the Hon Stanley Ng is as follows:

Patriotic education is rich in content, covering many facets including the history, culture, traditions and values, and symbols and signs of our country. Currently, different policy bureaux and departments have set up various kinds of schemes to sponsor local community groups and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to organise diversified promotional and publicity activities on different subjects, with a view to enhancing the sense of national identity and patriotism of the general public. For instance, the Community Participation Scheme set up under the Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education sponsors organisations for activities in promoting civic and national education; the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau and the Youth Development Commission also put in place various funding schemes, including the Funding Scheme for Youth Exchange in the Mainland and the Funding Scheme for Youth Internship in the Mainland, to provide funding support to NGOs in organising exchange activities or internship projects, so as to facilitate young people to visit the Mainland in person and learn and understand the country's development; the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, through the Constitution and Basic Law Promotion Activity and Research Sponsorship Scheme, provides sponsorship to NGOs in the community to stage promotional activities in a diversified manner and conduct research on the Constitution, the Basic Law and the Hong Kong National Security Law; the Home Affairs Department (HAD) launched the three-year Clansmen Culture Promotion Scheme this March to provide funding support for clansmen associations to organise activities promoting hometown culture in order to foster the spirit of patriotism; the HAD will also hold a number of patriotic education celebratory activities with local organisations across 18 districts around the National Day; the Education Bureau (EDB) provides funding for non-profit making organisations to organise Mainland exchange activities for primary and secondary students through the Passing on the Torch: National Education Activity Series Subvention Scheme, enabling them to gain a deeper understanding of our country's development and cultivate patriotism; and the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) provides funding for the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China to organise the Greater Bay Area Youth Sports Exchange Programme to strengthen exchanges and enhance the friendship between young athletes from Guangdong Province and Hong Kong through sports training and competitions. Relevant bureaux and departments will continue to co-operate with NGOs and community groups (including providing sponsorships for them to organise various kinds of national education related activities) to jointly promote national and patriotic education, and will review the effectiveness of such activities from time to time.

Organisations that wish to organise patriotic education related activities can use or rent suitable venues according to their needs. The HKSAR Government offers numerous premises, for example, the base for youth development and national education in Tsing Yi, which was converted from part of the community isolation facility, allows youth uniformed groups, schools and NGOs to hold flag raising and foot drill training, national education, and other youth development-related activities, etc. At the same time, through introducing the origin and special historical significance of community isolation facilities which were constructed under the Central Government's support, it allows youths to understand the care for Hong Kong by the Central Government, thus enhancing their sense of national identity. Whereas the Civic Education Resource Centre at Youth Square can, apart from having a collection of reference materials and teaching kits on civic education and youth development, be used for holding talks, training courses, film shows and seminars, etc. The thematic exhibition area and the permanent interactive exhibition area showcase interactive exhibits to promote core civic values, positive personal values and national knowledge. This year's exhibitions include Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Roving Exhibition and Rule of Law Exhibition.

In addition, there are currently various museum resources which can be effectively utilised for patriotic education. These include the Hong Kong Museum of History, the Hong Kong Palace Museum and the Hong Kong Science Museum, covering a wide range of themes, such as the history of the War of Resistance, Chinese history, Chinese culture, and the technology achievements of the country. By exploring the rich collections of these museums, citizens and students can gain a better understanding of the history and achievements of our country, with a view to strengthening their sense of national identity and enhancing patriotism. Of particular note is that the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence (MCD) will be converted into the Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence in September this year, with focus on the history of the War of Resistance. Through public and educational activities, the museum aims to enhance patriotism among the public regarding the war and to pay tribute to its martyrs. The HKSAR Government will also revitalise and convert Block 58 of the former Whitfield Barracks in Kowloon Park into the Chinese Culture Experience Centre, and organise a variety of activities and workshops for promoting Chinese culture. Moreover, the Government will set up a museum to showcase the developments and achievements of our country, covering areas such as its history, politics, economic development and culture. We encourage schools and organisations to make good use of these resources, allowing students and citizens to gain comprehensive understanding of our country, its history, and the Chinese culture from different perspectives.

In addition to the resource centres and museum as mentioned above, groups and individuals in the community can also make use of local historical sites and landmarks to enrich the content and experiences of patriotic education, such as the Law's House (currently the Hong Kong Sha Tau Kok Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall) at Sha Tau Kok that was used by the Hong Kong and Kowloon Independent Brigade of the East River Column as its base of operations and transportation checkpoint, as well as the Memorial Monument for Martyrs during World War II at Wu Kau Tang. In this regard, the Chinese Culture Promotion Office and the MCD under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will join forces to design and organise guided tours by making use of the historic sites in association with the War of Resistance to boost the understanding and awareness of the war history among the public.

On utilising patriotic resources in the Mainland, as well as relics and heritages related to war history in Hong Kong, currently, relevant bureaux and departments have plans to commence work:

(a) In better utilising Mainland patriotic resources, the EDB has been collaborating with the education authorities of different Mainland provinces and municipalities to organise Mainland exchange programmes and study tours for students to enable them to gain first-hand experience of our country's development and achievements, thereby enhancing their sense of national identity. Mainland exchange programmes (MEPs) for students offer more than 100 000 exchange quotas every year, allowing every student to join at least one MEP in the respective primary and secondary stages. In addition, since the previous school year (2022/23 school year), EDB has launched Mainland study tours for the senior secondary subject of Citizenship and Social Development (CS). From the previous school year to July 2024, a total of around 95 000 senior secondary students have participated in the CS tours and very positive feedback has been received from teachers and students. The EDB will incorporate more visiting spots with "red resources" appropriately into the routes of MEPs and study tours, allowing students to experience the arduous struggles and patriotic sentiments of the revolutionary predecessors. Starting from the coming school year (2024/25 school year), the EDB will include visits to Sihang Warehouse Battle Memorial as part of MEPs and add a new route of CS tour to Jiangxi Province with visits to the source of Dongjiang water and the starting point of Long March, with a view to stepping up the promotion of patriotic education. The EDB also organises Mainland study activities for teachers. The tours include visits to valuable resources for patriotic education. For example, to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Long March, EDB organised the Retracing the footsteps of revolutionary predecessors: from Yan'an to Xi'an – a study tour for Chinese history teachers in April this year to enhance teachers' understanding of the history of the Chinese Communist Party, the spirit and significance of the Long March. Besides, the MCD, after being converted into the Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence on September 3 this year, will regularly hold thematic exhibitions related to the War of Resistance in the Special Exhibition Gallery, and collaborate with cultural institutions and museums from the Mainland. The LCSD will jointly present a thematic exhibition with the Shenzhen Municipal Cultural Relics Bureau this September. The exhibition, to be jointly organised by the Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence, the Dongjiang Column Memorial, Shenzhen and the Memorial Hall of Chinese Cultural Celebrity Rescue, will introduce the joint resistance efforts of the East River Column in both Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

(b) In making good use of local relics and heritages related to war history, the Tourism Commission under the CSTB, in collaboration with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, has been taking forward the Enhancement of Hiking Trails - Phase II which covers hiking trails relating to war history, namely Lion Rock Historic Walk, Shing Mun War Relics Trail and Luk Keng War Relics Trail. Over the years, the MCD has organised various thematic lecture series related to the history of the War of Resistance, including, The War of Resistance against Japan and Hong Kong (September 2021), Women in Troubled Times: Hong Kong Women during the War of Resistance (October to December 2023), Popular Religion in Hong Kong during Wartime January to March 2024), Literature and Other Publications in Hong Kong during the War of Resistance (April to June 2024). Moreover, during the years of 2022/23 and 2023/24, a series of programmes titled Fight as One: Anti-Japanese Guerrillas were held, including thematic lectures, travelling exhibitions, and site visits, etc. These activities aimed to deepen the public's understanding on the history of the War of Resistance in Hong Kong and the Hong Kong and Kowloon Independent Brigade of the East River Column. We will consider working out a list on related relics for easy reference by schools and organisations.

Regarding the suggestion to organise exhibitions showcasing models of the country's military equipment, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Hong Kong Garrison organises barracks open days around July 1 every year. Since 2021, the Hong Kong Garrison Exhibition Center was set up at Ngong Shuen Chau Barrack, displaying historical photos, antiques and models of the PLA's military equipment. Through the visits, relevant groups can deepen their understanding of the remarkable achievements of the country, the nation's military history and the work of the Hong Kong Garrison. Besides, within the MCD, there is currently a gallery dedicated to the Hong Kong Garrison. This exhibition introduces the responsibilities of the Garrison, which has been in charge of Hong Kong’s military facilities and defence since 1997, serving as a crucial cornerstone for maintaining Hong Kong's prosperity and stability. The exhibition is supplemented with historical photos, artifacts, models of PLA vessels (including landing ship, patrol boat, missile boat, and the aircraft carrier "Liaoning"), films, and interactive programmes. These displays help the public understand the evolution of national military equipment, thereby enhancing their national confidence and patriotic spirit. The MCD will explore the feasibility of collaborating with Mainland cultural institutions and museums to organise exhibitions showcasing the models of the country's military equipment, providing Hong Kong citizens with a deeper understanding of the evolutionary development of the country's defence capabilities.

Source: AI-generated images

Secretary for justice, mr paul lam, sc, emphasizes asia's role in upholding five principles of peaceful coexistence at international law colloquium

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, at the 2024 Colloquium on International Law today (July 5):

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good afternoon. It is my privilege to join you today at this esteemed annual colloquium on international law, which has always been a wonderful platform for fruitful exchanges amongst all those interested in the development of international law.

First and foremost, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Asian Academy of International Law (AAIL), the AAIL Foundation and the Chinese Society of International Law for organising this meaningful event and for inviting me to deliver this keynote speech.

(I) Background on the Five Principles

The theme of this Colloquium today is "Asia's Contribution to Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence: Past and Future". Having listened to the insightful speeches delivered by our distinguished speakers on the topic this morning, I am very sure these Principles are no longer strangers to any of you.

To recap, the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence are: first, mutual respect for each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty; second, mutual non-aggression; third, mutual non-interference in each other's internal affairs; fourth, equality and mutual benefit; and lastly, peaceful coexistence.

While the Principles were initiated 70 years ago, they still play an influential and indispensable role under the international and national legal order today. For instance, the Five Principles have been enshrined in the preamble to the Chinese Constitution and reiterated in Article 4 of the Law on Foreign Relations of China enacted not too long ago.

(II) Asia's Contribution - the Past

On the international plane, the Five Principles have been accepted and further extended at the Bandung Conference in April 1955 by Asian and African States. They have also been incorporated into various bilateral and multilateral agreements and have been endorsed by numerous countries and international organisations.

For example, the tenets of the Five Principles were incorporated in a resolution on peaceful coexistence presented by India, Yugoslavia and Sweden, and unanimously adopted on December 11, 1957, by the United Nations General Assembly. In 1961, the Conference of Non-Aligned Nations in Belgrade also accepted the Five Principles as the principled core of the Non-Aligned Movement.

It is noteworthy that the Five Principles align closely with the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, which emphasises mutual respect for each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and peaceful coexistence.

As President Xi mentioned during his important speech at the Conference Marking the 70th Anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence in Beijing last Friday, and I quote, "the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence have set a historic benchmark for international relations and international rule of law. They fully conform with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, with the evolving trend of international relations of our times, and with the fundamental interests of all nations."

(III) Asia's Contribution - the Future

Although 70 years have passed since the formulation of the Five Principles, they have withstood the test of time and remained highly relevant in the modern world.

Asia, with its rich and diverse cultural heritage, is well positioned to continue to contribute to the wider acceptance of the Five Principles by further practicing them when forging international relations across borders.

There are various ways through which Asian jurisdictions may continue to capitalise on these Principles for collective advancement.

(A) Belt and Road Initiative

First of all, Asian countries' continual participation in regional initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) exemplifies the spirit of the Five Principles.

As discussed by the distinguished speakers in the morning session of this Colloquium, the BRI seeks to develop integrated trade corridors across Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe, covering more than 150 countries.

Just as President Xi mentioned in his speech last week, and I quote, "all countries, regardless of their size, strength and wealth, are equal members of the international community", with common interests, rights and responsibilities in international affairs and should work together for a shared future. In the same spirit, Asian states with a shared future and intertwined interests, may, through taking part in projects under the Belt and Road Initiative, continue to connect with each other and enjoy mutual benefits.

In this regard, Hong Kong, China, as an international financial centre, not only acts as a nexus for cross-border project financing, but also plays the role of an international legal and dispute resolution service centre as well as a capacity-building hub for foreign-related legal affairs.

International legal and dispute resolution centre

Specifically, under the principle of "one country, two systems", the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (Hong Kong SAR) has the benefits of an independent and reliable legal system, strong rule of law and a large pool of legal talent specialising in the provision of legal and dispute-resolution services. Under our robust legal system, our talent provide diverse and comprehensive services to all sorts of investors engaged in trade and investment under the Belt and Road Initiative, such as arbitration and mediation services.

For example, the Asian African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO) Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre opened its doors in 2022 to investors, including those involved in BRI-related disputes, to offer them cost-effective and time-efficient dispute resolution mechanisms, be it physical, online or hybrid mode.

Moreover, lawtech services are readily available in our city. Examples include the online dispute resolution (ODR) platform offered by eBRAM from Hong Kong, China, which provides secure platforms for the resolution of commercial and investment disputes involving Belt and Road countries through online negotiation, mediation and arbitration, for parties around the world.

Capacity-building centre

Further, the Hong Kong SAR strives to establish itself as a leading capacity-building centre for foreign-related legal affairs.

Over the years, Hong Kong has hosted or organised various capacity-building activities, including training workshops for both local and foreign legal experts, such as the 4th Investment Law and Investor-State Mediation Training co-organised by the Department of Justice, the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution and the AAIL, which was held most recently from May 31 to June 1, 2024. Throughout the four editions of this event, over 200 participants from 38 jurisdictions have learnt from top-notch trainers and gained invaluable insights from the discussions and interactive exercises with their fellow participants.

Hong Kong also promotes capacity building by supporting the China-AALCO Exchange and Research Program on International Law, which provides annual training courses for delegates from AALCO members. In fact, this Colloquium constitutes the Hong Kong part of the seventh training session of the Program, which is organised by AAIL with the support of the Department of Justice.

It is also worth mentioning that the first edition of The Hague Academy of International Law's Advanced Course in Hong Kong was held in December last year, benefiting over 40 participants from about 20 jurisdictions around the world. We are planning to support the second edition this year.

Looking forward, the Hong Kong SAR will step up its efforts in enhancing collaboration with different international organisations in the field of capacity building, through the establishment of the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy as announced under the Chief Executive's 2023 Policy Address. The Academy will regularly organise practical training courses, seminars, international exchange programmes, etc to promote exchanges across borders, including amongst jurisdictions in the Belt and Road region. It is envisaged that the Academy will help promote mutual understanding on the international, regional and national legal systems, contributing to the practical application of the Five Principles by fostering mutual respect and understanding.

(B) Partnerships in Trade Relations

Secondly, building partnerships in trade relations is another way to foster mutual development and contribute to the Vision of Building a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind in the spirit of peaceful coexistence, attaining the ideals of an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalisation, as envisioned by President Xi in his speech last Friday.

In particular, through various economic and trade partnerships, Asian countries will continue to grow together and integrate into the regional industrial value chain for collective benefits.

Again, under the principle of "one country, two systems", Hong Kong has been using its name of "Hong Kong, China" to participate in bilateral and regional trade and investment partnerships under the framework of the World Trade Organization, WTO. It has concluded over 20 investment promotion and protection agreements, including such Asian countries as Japan, Republic of Korea and Thailand. It also signed a free trade agreement and an investment agreement with the 10 member states of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) in late 2017, and is actively seeking early accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the RCEP.

Further, international organisations such as ASEAN and APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) foster regional dialogues and strengthen co-operation amongst Asian countries. Again, Hong Kong, China, has been actively participating in these forums and contributing to the holistic regional growth.

These trade partnerships and collaborative efforts continue to create synergies and mutual benefits for all economies concerned, contributing to the application of the Five Principles in the economic realm.

(C) Mediation

Finally, peaceful resolution of international disputes is also an important element under the Five Principles. President Xi also highlighted in his address last Friday that the Five Principles, and I quote, "offer a new path toward peaceful settlement of historic issues and international disputes, triumphing over obsolete, narrow-minded, antagonistic and confrontational mindsets such as bloc politics and sphere of influence."

In this regard, mediation can play a pivotal role, which has a long history in Asia, and there is growing global recognition for mediation as an effective means to resolve disputes amicably. Indeed, Article 33 of the United Nations Charter explicitly states that mediation and conciliation are important means of peaceful settlement of international disputes.

Asian countries, with their strong cultural preference for peaceful resolution of disputes, continue to be one of the driving forces for the growing adoption of mediation in times of conflict, including the use of mediation for cross-border disputes.

Hong Kong has also been actively promoting the use of mediation as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism locally, regionally and internationally, in the spirit of peaceful and efficient settlement of disputes.

Within the city, the Department of Justice has been running a campaign known as the "Mediate First" Pledge for many years to promote the use of mediation to resolve disputes in Hong Kong. The Chief Executive has also announced in the Policy Address 2023 the initiative to deepen the mediation culture by enhancing the mediation system.

Regionally, Hong Kong, China, has opted into the APEC Collaborative Framework for ODR of Cross-Border Business-to-Business Disputes since 2020. Under the Framework, ODR providers such as Hong Kong's eBRAM would first offer online negotiation and mediation services in the first and second stages of the procedure, and only when disputes remain unresolved after these two phases would they be arbitrated.

Internationally, my colleagues have been participating actively as part of the Chinese delegation in the UNCITRAL Working Group III on ISDS Reform. In particular, Hong Kong has hosted the Working Group III pre-Intersessional meeting in 2020 and Intersessional meeting in 2021, contributing to the successful adoption of the UNCITRAL Guidelines on Mediation for International Investment Disputes last year.

Recently, with the staunch support from the Central People's Government to strengthen Hong Kong as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre in the Asia Pacific region under the National 14th Five-Year Plan and the Greater Bay Area Development Plan, the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) Preparatory Office was established in the Hong Kong SAR in 2023 and the Organization will be headquartered in Hong Kong upon its establishment.

The IOMed will be the first international inter-governmental legal organisation in the world specialising in settlement of international disputes by mediation that provides friendly, flexible, economical and efficient mediation services for international disputes, and will be a useful supplement to the existing dispute resolution institutions and means of dispute resolution, providing a new platform for the peaceful settlement of international disputes.

The Hong Kong SAR will continue to contribute to the development of peaceful settlement mechanisms that embody the spirit of the Five Principles.

(IV) Looking Forward

As we look into the future, it is clear that the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence will continue to offer valuable guidance to Asia and the world for building meaningful and harmonious international relations. It is indeed our collective responsibility to continue to promote the Five Principles to ensure a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world for our future generations.

History shows us that Asia has set a great example that it is possible to collaborate for mutual growth and prosperity. As President Xi has reiterated in his speech, "China's resolve to promote common development across the world will not change." In this connection, through contributing to collaboration under initiatives such as the BRI, and acting as an international legal and dispute resolution centre as well as a capacity-building hub in the region, the Hong Kong SAR's efforts will continue to contribute to the upholding of the Five Principles, which I believe will live on for the common good of all in the years to come.

On this note, I wish you all a very fruitful time at the Colloquium exploring how the spirit of the Five Principles continues to shape developments in Asia and beyond in a positive manner.

Have an enjoyable luncheon and a pleasant afternoon. Thank you.

Speech by SJ at 2024 Colloquium on International Law Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases