Education is without doubt a pillar in a country’s long-term progress and national strength. In this technology- and innovation-driven era, a sound education system is critical to enhancing every country’s economic and technological competitiveness. Likewise, education plays a role in protecting a country’s national security.
Last month, the National People’s Congress passed a resolution tasking its Standing Committee with drafting a national security law for Hong Kong. One of the articles in that resolution includes a mandate for Hong Kong’s chief executive to educate residents on matters of sovereignty and national security.
Many attribute the series of illegal activities, anti-government protests, riots, social unrest and terrorist threats since 2012 to the absence of national security education in Hong Kong. The disorder and mayhem destabilise Hong Kong society, undermine China’s security and challenge its sovereignty.
In some of these anti-government and anti-China demonstrations, black-clad rioters desecrated the national flag and waved banners and flags saying “Independence for Hong Kong”. This clearly reflects the alarming tendency of separatist ideas among Hong Kong youth.
A systematic and well-designed national security education curriculum could help students better understand the importance of protecting the country’s sovereignty and abiding by national security laws. This way, they will not be misled into participating in acts against the central government, China’s territorial integrity or “one country, two systems.”
What is often underappreciated is that patriotic education can complement national security education in safeguarding a country’s security interest. Take road safety as an analogy to demonstrate how this can happen.
Learning the national security law by heart is like memorising road traffic regulations such as observing speed limits and stopping at traffic lights.
By obeying all road traffic regulations, individual drivers will not commit any offence. Overall road safety may not improve significantly, however, if most drivers do not possess the right attitude and display appropriate behaviour when on the road.
To be a dutiful, responsible and safe driver, one must do more than learning all traffic laws by rote. One must, for example, be courteous towards other road users and vigilant at all times to avoid potential collisions caused by others.
As a result, these responsible and safe drivers collectively contribute significantly to reducing overall traffic accidents and deaths. Likewise, patriotic education can inculcate in our citizens a proper view of mainland China, allowing them to be wary of any potential threats to national security and to take action to uphold the country’s interests. In this way, the national security law and patriotic education go hand in hand in Hong Kong.
Many countries around the world have implemented patriotic education in some form. Although there is no precise and universally accepted definition of what patriotic education encompasses, broadly speaking, it includes topics such as the constitution, national history, identity and heritage.
With respect to the situation in Hong Kong, knowledge about the Basic Law and the principle of one country, two systems should be a part of this new patriotic education curriculum. In addition, Hong Kong students should be taught about the many economic and technological achievements, and social and scientific developments, in China as part of this patriotic education curriculum, for pragmatic reasons.
As the second-largest economy in the world, China will be the future for most Hong Kong young people whether they like it or not. The more they know about the motherland, the better they will be equipped to develop their careers and find a job there.
If we are to learn a lesson from the 2012 protests against the proposed patriotic education curriculum, we should avoid indoctrinating students with “isms”. Our young people will continue to be empowered with critical thinking and freedom of expression, but within reasonable boundaries and with a proper understanding of our country, history and identity.
A patriotic education can help nurture our students' sense of national identity. If we can achieve this, it will signify the beginning of an organic integration of Hong Kong into the motherland, where opportunities for younger generations lie.
Ken Chu is group chairman and CEO of Mission Hills Group and a national committee member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference