Lee links youth patriotism drive to Beijing flag visit
Bastillepost · 8 SOURCESabout 14 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong officials have expanded on the political messaging around the Beijing trip by the “Salute to the National Flag” Hong Kong and Macau youth flag-raising delegation. After Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on September 21 that the visit embodied a “mobile classroom” approach to patriotic education, new remarks published on September 22 from Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki said the meeting with Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang conveyed the central government’s encouragement and expectations for Hong Kong and Macau youth. Chan said the exchange gave officials and students clearer direction on balancing security and development through stronger national education, while Lee said the SAR government would continue cultivating national identity, cultural confidence and successors for the “one country, two systems” cause.
Key Points
- Ding Xuexiang met the Hong Kong and Macau youth flag-raising delegation at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on September 21, with Xia Baolong also attending.
- Lee said Ding relayed Xi Jinping’s greetings and stressed that if Hong Kong and Macau youth develop well, the two cities and the country will also develop well.
- According to Lee and RTHK, Ding urged students to understand the national flag, turn patriotism into action, and become builders and successors of “one country, two systems”.
- Chan said the September 22 account showed Beijing’s expectations for youth, adding that stronger national education would help nurture a new generation serving Hong Kong and the country
- Officials said the trip included the Tiananmen flag-raising ceremony, exchanges with the PLA ceremonial guard, and visits to the Forbidden City, National Museum and other Beijing landmarks.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong schools and families, the updated official messaging points to continued emphasis on experiential national education alongside classroom teaching, with patriotic, national, national security and values education already written into the SAR’s first five-year plan. The latest comments also show the government tying youth work more explicitly to both national identity and the policy goal of balancing security with development.