Hong Kong education minister says no plans to make patriotic education a separate subject, day after President Xi Jinping praises Macau’s approach to topic
- Chinese leader pointed to inclusion in Macau syllabus as factor in successful implementation of ‘one country, two systems’
- But city’s education chief Kevin Yeung says city will continue to promote sense of national identity through different means
There are no plans to make patriotic education a separate subject in Hong Kong, the city’s education chief said on Friday, despite Chinese President Xi Jinping highlighting Macau’s approach to the topic during his three-day visit.
Xi signalled his approval for the casino hub’s policy and pointed to it as a key factor in the successful implementation of “one country, two systems” in the city, something analysts said was intended to put pressure on Hong Kong to follow suit.
However, they believed the ongoing anti-government protests, and swelling of anti-China sentiment, meant it would be unrealistic for Hong Kong to include it in the education syllabus.
During the trip, Xi highlighted one of Beijing’s ambitions for Hong Kong as he toured a local school and watched a Chinese history class.
“Patriotic education lays a solid social and political foundation for Macau to implement the one country, two systems principle, and guides its practise to always proceed in the correct direction,” Xi said on Thursday, at Premier School Affiliated to Hou Kong Middle School.
