New Thematic Exhibition Inspires Hong Kong Students with Stories of National Pillars and Patriotism

Launching ceremony of "China in Splendour: The Ethos and Spirit of the Pillars of Our Time" Thematic Exhibition held today

The Education Bureau (EDB) held the launching ceremony of "China in Splendour: The Ethos and Spirit of the Pillars of Our Time" Thematic Exhibition today (March 13). The ceremony was officiated by the Acting Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing. The exhibition introduces the life stories of a number of pillars of our time as well as their contributions to the country, enabling students to connect what they learn with knowledge from various subjects, with a view to inspiring the younger generation to contribute to the future development of the country and to pass on the spirit of these pillars of our time.

Addressing the event, Mr Cheuk said that these pillars have enabled the country to shine brightly on the world stage in various areas, such as culture, technology, defence, agriculture, medicine, architecture and sports. Their inspiring and motivational stories serve as exemplary demonstrations of patriotic spirit, and as real-life and vivid teaching materials for patriotic education. The spirit they exude - hard work, unwavering persistence, devotion to our country and its people, and selfless contribution - is truly moving and commands deep respect. He encouraged students present to learn from the efforts and perseverance of each of these figures, to cultivate their own sense of patriotism, and to contribute to the country's future development.

He continued by noting that President Xi Jinping has pointed out that patriotism is at the core of Chinese national spirit, and Hong Kong compatriots have long upheld the glorious tradition of loving the country and loving Hong Kong, which constitutes an important foundation for the steadfast and successful implementation of "one country, two systems". The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government attaches great importance to patriotic education. On campus, the EDB continues to adopt all-round, comprehensive, cross-key-stage, and interdisciplinary approaches to integrate patriotic education into daily learning and teaching. The school curriculum covers elements such as the Constitution and the Basic Law; national symbols including the national flag, national anthem, and national emblem; as well as national security, national history and affairs, Chinese culture and national geography. These are combined with values education and related activities, enabling students not only to acquire knowledge of the country but also to develop an emotional identification with its close ties to the country. From an early age, this fosters their growth into good national citizens with a strong sense of national identity.

To further promote patriotic education, the HKSAR Government set up the Working Group on Patriotic Education under the Constitution and Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee in 2024. The Working Group has been co-ordinating with government departments and non-governmental organisations to promote patriotic education, dovetailing with the Patriotic Education Law of the People's Republic of China to inherit and promote the spirit of patriotism.

Other guests attending the ceremony included the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin; the Director-General of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Dr Wang Weiming; the Permanent Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Ms Maggie Wong; the Deputy Secretary for Education, Dr Gloria Chan; the Chairperson of the Curriculum Development Council, Professor Isabella Poon; representatives of the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers (HKFEW), including Professor Lau Chi-pang, Mr Wong Kam-leung, Mr Tang Fei and Mr Ng Wun-kit; members of the Working Group on Patriotic Education; and principals, teachers and students of primary and secondary schools.

"China in Splendour: The Ethos and Spirit of the Pillars of Our Time" Thematic Exhibition is organised by the EDB and co-organised by the Patriotic Education Centre under the HKFEW. The exhibition runs from now until late October this year and is targeted at all primary and secondary students in Hong Kong (including special schools). Schools interested in visiting may apply via the Patriotic Education Centre. For details, please visit the Centre's website (www.hkpec.hk).

The Education Bureau held the launching ceremony of "China in Splendour: The Ethos and Spirit of the Pillars of Our Time" Thematic Exhibition today (March 13). Photo shows the Acting Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing (front row, centre), touring the exhibition with other guests after the ceremony. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Education Bureau held the launching ceremony of "China in Splendour: The Ethos and Spirit of the Pillars of Our Time" Thematic Exhibition today (March 13). Photo shows the Acting Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing (front row, eighth right), with guests, principals, teachers and students of primary and secondary schools at the ceremony. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Education Bureau held the launching ceremony of "China in Splendour: The Ethos and Spirit of the Pillars of Our Time" Thematic Exhibition today (March 13). Photo shows the Acting Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing (front row, centre); the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin (front row, fifth right); the Director-General of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Dr Wang Weiming (front row, fifth left); the Permanent Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Ms Maggie Wong (front row, fourth right); the Deputy Secretary for Education, Dr Gloria Chan (front row, fourth left), the Chairperson of the Curriculum Development Council, Professor Isabella Poon (front row, third right), representatives of the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers, including Professor Lau Chi-pang (front row, third left), Mr Wong Kam-leung (front row, second right), Mr Ng Wun-kit (front row, second left) and Mr Tang Fei (front row, first right), and the Principal Assistant Secretary (Curriculum Development), Ms Yvonne Lam (front row, first left), with other participants of the event. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Acting Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, speaks at the launching ceremony of "China in Splendour: The Ethos and Spirit of the Pillars of Our Time" Thematic Exhibition today (March 13). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKSAR Government strongly condemns anti-China organisation and foreign media for misleading public and whitewashing Lai Chee-ying

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today (May 1) strongly condemned the attempts by an anti-China organisation and foreign media to sugarcoat the criminal acts of national security offender Lai Chee-ying and to slander, smear, as well as attack the HKSAR by releasing a so-called press freedom index and presenting a so-called "award". Such despicable behaviours totally disregarded the rule of law and twisted the facts, which must be strongly condemned.

A spokesman for the HKSAR Government said, "As guaranteed by the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights, all defendants charged with a criminal offence shall have the right to a fair trial by the Judiciary exercising independent judicial power. The courts of the HKSAR shall exercise judicial power independently, free from any interference. In the Lai Chee-ying case, the court has conducted 156 days of public hearings, considered up to 2 220 pieces of evidence, over 80 000 pages of documents, and a total of over 1 000 pages of written submissions from all parties, etc. Lai Chee-ying himself even testified in court for 52 days. These are the testaments to the fact that Lai Chee-ying and other defendants were found guilty only after a fair trial. The suggestion that any persons or organisations with certain backgrounds should be immune from legal sanctions for their illegal acts and activities is tantamount to granting such persons privileges to break the law and is totally contrary to the spirit of the rule of law.

"Some media organisations and organisations that claim to represent journalists have conflated the criminal acts in the Lai Chee-Ying case with freedom of the press, and have even played up different cases to vilify the HKSAR, with the purpose of misleading the public and defaming the HKSAR's human rights and rule of law. In fact, the Lai Chee-ying case has nothing to do with freedom of the press at all. Over the years, the defendants were using journalism as a guise to commit acts that brought harm to our country and Hong Kong. The public trial of this case revealed Lai Chee-ying's close management and hands-on control of the editorial direction of Apple Daily. He had also repeatedly colluded with foreign forces to beg for sanctions and engaged in hostile activities against the Central Government and the HKSAR Government. The court clearly pointed out that Lai Chee-ying's only intent, whether pre or post Hong Kong National Security Law (HKNSL), was to seek the downfall of the Communist Party of China, even though the ultimate cost was the sacrifice of the interests of the people of the People's Republic of China and the HKSAR.

"The court clearly pointed out in the reasons for verdict that Lai Chee-ying was not on trial for his political views or beliefs. The court's publicly released reasons for verdict and sentence have meticulously explained the court's analysis of the relevant legal principles and evidence, as well as the reasons of the conviction and sentencing of Lai Chee-ying and the three defendant companies, which are well-founded and reasoned, fully demonstrating that the court has made its decision on the case strictly in accordance with the law and evidence, free from any interference, and absolutely free of any political considerations. External forces with ulterior motives, when being faced with these ironclad facts, continue to distort the truth and launch maliciously attack. The HKSAR Government must again firmly refute these claims to set the record straight."

The spokesman stressed, "Hong Kong citizens enjoy freedom of the press and freedom of speech as protected under the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights. In fact, the HKNSL and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO) clearly stipulate that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security. The rights and freedoms, including the freedoms of the press, of speech and of publication, enjoyed by Hong Kong people under the Basic Law and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as applied to the HKSAR, are protected in accordance with the law.

"Since the implementation of the HKNSL and the SNSO, the media landscape in Hong Kong has remained vibrant. However, some people with ulterior motives deliberately fabricated facts about freedom of the press and speech in Hong Kong. As the funding of Reporters Without Borders' funding has largely come from the European Union, the United States (US) State Department and other European governments, it serves as a tool for anti-China forces for the US and some western countries. The so-called "rankings" lack credibility which the HKSAR Government disregards."

The spokesperson reiterated, "The HKSAR Government will, as always, resolutely and strictly adhere to the principle of the rule of law to ensure that 'laws are observed and strictly enforced to bring offenders to account', so as to prevent, suppress and impose punishment for acts and activities endangering national security while protecting the lawful rights and interests of Hong Kong residents and other people in Hong Kong. The HKSAR Government urges all sides to recognise the objective facts and stop any baseless malicious attacks."

Source: AI-found images