Hong Kong Education Bureau Emphasizes Role in Safeguarding National Security

On Tuesday, a spokesperson from the Education Bureau (EDB) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) addressed media inquiries concerning the protection of national security. The spokesperson emphasized that it is not only the government’s duty but also a collective responsibility of the entire Hong Kong community to safeguard national security. They pointed out that this goal is integral to regular school activities, particularly in advancing national security education.

Since the establishment of the national security law in Hong Kong five years ago, there has been a notable shift from disorder to stability, and further towards prosperity, according to the EDB. To reinforce students’ understanding of Chinese culture, the Constitution, and the Basic Law, the EDB has taken a comprehensive and coordinated approach, incorporating both classroom and extracurricular activities designed to promote patriotic education. The bureau has provided schools with extensive administrative and educational guidelines aimed at creating tailored mechanisms to address national security matters effectively.

The EDB spokesperson stressed that schools should act as vigilant gatekeepers and improve sensitivity to national security among both teachers and students. This applies even to institutions offering non-local curricula, which are also tasked with ensuring that all students, irrespective of their ethnic or national backgrounds, gain a proper and unbiased understanding of Hong Kong's national security law. Additionally, these schools are responsible for fostering a spirit of lawfulness among their student body. The spokesperson confirmed that the EDB would continue to oversee and assist schools in executing these initiatives through various forms of communication.