Onus on leaders to set an example

Modern dictionaries agree that patriotism means love for your country and loyalty towards it. It includes your willingness to defend your country.

It is true that those born and bred in Hong Kong have been taught scarcely anything to do with patriotism. Some say that was typical of colonial education - any strong feeling for a country is almost irrelevant in a colonial regime, let alone teaching Hong Kong Chinese to be patriotic to China.

But are Hong Kong Chinese less patriotic than those who were born and bred in China, where patriotic education is compulsory? Many Hong Kong Chinese do not know how to sing the Chinese national anthem. They have no special feelings about October 1. Some may only have a vague idea about what the national flag looks like. And others may not be able to name the leaders of the Chinese Government and the Chinese Communist Party.

But will they become more patriotic if they know these things? Hong Kong citizens feel free to criticise their government and are equally enthusiastic in offering ideas and suggestions for improving it.

In China, few people dare to criticise the leadership and even fewer bother to offer any ideas and suggestions. In this respect, are Hong Kong people less or more patriotic? Hong Kong people are well-known for their charity. Every year, hundreds of millions of dollars are poured into China by donors to help build schools, hospitals or for disaster relief.

Every year, the community hears of cases of how officials across the border have milked public coffers, spending public money for their entertainment and comfort, resulting in central government being left in a financial bind.

Perhaps Hong Kong Chinese can say they are far more patriotic than the mainlanders as at least the former are giving money to China to help it improve, while many on the mainland are taking money from their government and hindering China's development.