Flying the Flag for National Education

Students to attend flag-raising ceremonies weekly from January

 

National education is being stepped up in Hong Kong starting on January 1, 2022 with schools having to hold the flag-raising ceremony at least once a week during the school term. Previously it was only for special occasions.

The Education Bureau released the circular on Monday though it made no mention of penalties for non-compliance, but that students who did not behave properly during the ceremonies should be stopped or removed from the venue.

It is hoped they will have greater national identity

The entire school must attend the event which is held on special occasions and on a weekly basis. For days like National Day, New Year's Day, and July 1, it's a public holiday -- so are students expected to return to school for the flag-raising ceremony?

Maybe that's why the bureau realized the flag-raising ceremony had to be held on days when students were in school...

There will also be a demand for more flag poles, as schools are asked to display the Hong Kong flag next to the Chinese one.

A bureau spokesman said the move aimed to "promote national education and help students develop a sense of belonging to the country, an affection for the Chinese people and enhance their sense of national identity."

Sounds like he was reading from a script.

International schools may join as well

The spokesman added that cultivating students' sense of national identity was one of the key learning goals of primary and secondary education, and also the educational obligation of schools.

Students are only missing the red scarves around their necks.

Meanwhile international schools are "encouraged" to also hold the flag-raising ceremonies.

"For the international schools in Hong Kong, as most of them have admitted local students, they are encouraged to refer to the requirements specified in the [circular], and display the national flag on each school day and conduct a national flag-raising ceremony weekly based on the actual school circumstances, so as to enhance local students' sense of national identity and deepen foreign students' understanding of the Chinese culture."

If international schools want to be in the government's good books, they know what to do...

 

 

National Day Patriotic Spending

Lots of patriotic red at the Convention Centre this morning

Now Hongkongers know how Beijing residents feel when National Day comes on October 1.

Roads and walkways near the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre were roped off, apparently some 8,000 police officers were out on the streets, and while pro-Beijing events that had gatherings of more than four people (wearing red masks of course) went ahead, others were given tickets by the authorities for contravening social-distancing measures.

Yesterday people could not go near the HKCEC

Luckily Hong Kong residents had a distraction from the patriotic festivities -- the second batch of the consumption voucher scheme was released today, and many took advantage of either HK$2,000 if they used Octopus cards (and HK$1,000 in December), or HK$3,000 for three other designated apps to go shopping.

One 50-year-old man shelled out HK$134,000 for a gold bridal necklace at Chow Tai Fook.

"Since I planned to buy a gold necklace as a future wedding gift for my one-year-old daughter, I decided to buy it today, as it just so happened that the second round of the e-voucher scheme was kicking off," he said. "When she is 18, I will present this gift to her."

Hope she likes it, 17 years from now...

Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po thinks the local economy is improving significantly because of the e-voucher scheme.

People went mad shopping instead in the malls

"From what I've observed, the market sentiment is really good. Many people told me that as the economy is getting better, they are willing to spend more," he said.

However, he said what was a priority was to keep the pandemic under control and reopen the border with the mainland.

Ah yes, that.

Hong Kong has gone 44 days without a local infection, but apparently that is still not good enough for China.

A few days ago Chinese authorities hinted Hong Kong needed to further step up its testing of inbound travelers and quarantine. But perhaps there are expectations for Hong Kong to implement the use of the mainland's health apps it developed during the pandemic?

But in the meantime our government officials are getting a kick in the arse by lawmakers and social workers for not visiting grassroots residents regularly in a bid to understand their needs and try to solve their livelihood issues.

Ip says officials need to meet locals regularly

That put senior government officials on the defensive, however, it wasn't enough for Executive Council member and former secretary for security Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee.

"The cabinet as a whole has yet to form a habit to stay close with the people regularly. The government needs to respond to public demands speedily, but [Carrie] Lam has mainly been visiting public facilities and universities, and hasn't stepped out of her comfort zone yet. Even though Lam hosted a town hall meeting in August, it was held on the seventh floor of the Xiqu Centre."

Ouch.

Lam and co. still have a lot of work to do to please everyone...