Security Bureau rolls out national security picture books
SingTao · 5 SOURCESabout 4 hours ago5 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong’s Security Bureau on Wednesday launched a new educational picture-book series, “On Jai and Bear Boy: Little Citizens Safeguarding National Security”, aimed at kindergarten pupils. Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung (鄧炳強) said the bureau wanted to extend the theme from earlier national security comics for primary students to younger children through cartoons, simple text and storytelling rather than dense explanations. The set contains three books on respecting others, distinguishing right from wrong, and cherishing family, Hong Kong and the country, while companion songs and a teacher’s handbook were also prepared to support classroom use. The first batch is due to be distributed by the end of this year to more than 900 kindergartens and public libraries, alongside school workshops.
Key Points
- The Security Bureau published a three-volume set titled “On Jai and Bear Boy: Little Citizens Safeguarding National Security” and held a launch ceremony on 28 October.
- Tang said the format was chosen because kindergarten pupils are very young, so pictures and stories can explain complex ideas without too much text.
- The three titles are “On Jai Learns to Sing Softly”, “On Jai Learns to Think”, and “On Jai Learns to Love Family and Country”.
- According to the bureau, the books are supported by the Education Bureau, and songs plus a teacher’s handbook were created to make teaching easier.
- Deputy Secretary for Education Sze Chun-fai (施俊輝) said kindergarten curriculum guidance already covers national awareness and law-abiding values, with home-school cooperation also important.
Why It Matters
The initiative shows national security education in Hong Kong being pushed further down the age ladder, from primary pupils to kindergarten children, using storybooks, songs and school activities as the main delivery tools. For parents, teachers and libraries, the rollout means these materials are likely to become part of everyday early-years learning and home reading, not only formal classroom teaching.