Picture of the Day: National Security Education Day

First I heard of it, but 2021 will be the sixth year of the event

 

The other day my walking buddy took me on a path to walk by the Cross Harbour Tunnel and it was there that we saw some new billboard signs.

All of them were covered with messages saying: "April 15 National Security Education Day".

It was the first I had heard of it, but I just looked it up and it has been happening since 2015 when China promulgated the state security law.

Pro-Beijing organizations participate in symposiums to learn more about the law, but perhaps we didn't really pay attention until now because it was sprung upon us late last June.

And to mark this year's event, five disciplined services, including police and customs officers will perform the Chinese military's "goose-stepping" style of ceremonial marching instead of the British foot drills.

"Performing British foot drills when promoting the importance of national security does not seem right. After all, we have been handed over for nearly 24 years," one top officer said, referring to the city's return to Chinese sovereignty in 1997.

"The public performance on National Security Education Day this year is a good start to show the unity of the disciplinary forces, as some already plan to infuse the Chinese style into routing training."

In the Chinese military style of "goose-stepping", troops keep their legs rigidly straight when lifting them off the ground, while their arms swing at a 90-degree angle in front of their chest.

It sounds like a very uncomfortable way to march, but gotta integrate with China, right?

But yes, National Security Education Day. We'll be watching for it.