In this new era, Hong Kong has to renew its understanding of the nation and the world. Patriotism and national security education do not necessarily have to be a hard sell. Subtle and silent approaches may sometimes yield better results. Over the past few years, Hong Kong has remained in a highly tense condition, with a prevailing atmosphere of preferring left rather than right in society. For Hong Kong to reclaim its characteristics as an economic city, the social atmosphere also has to return to normal. The government can play a pivotal role in building a tolerant and harmonious atmosphere.
With the completion of the Article 23 legislation, CE John Lee said yesterday (26 March) that Hong Kong has to vigorously pursue economic growth and development. There are four key areas in the government’s work plan: fully implementing measures proposed in the Policy Address and Budget to boost the economy and development; seizing global and China-oriented opportunities; enhancing Hong Kong’s competitiveness by ”attracting talent and enterprises” proactively; fostering internal economic development by taking the initiative to host all sorts of grand events; promoting tourism, consumption and investments.
Lee said the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance serves the purpose of effectively preventing, suppressing and punishing acts or activities that endanger national security. The government will combine national security education, patriotic education and Chinese cultural education, which will be promoted in schools and at community levels.
In this new era, Hong Kong has to break away from its Western-centric positioning and understand that the Western world does not equate to the global community. Naturally, not being Western-centric does not mean having to reject the West entirely. As a highly Westernised society, it makes no sense for Hong Kong to veer to the other extreme either—it would just be self-denial. What Hong Kong truly needs is to view the world from a broader perspective, and rebuild a world view based on a multipolar and multicultural world.
The discussion on national security education, patriotic education and Chinese cultural education should also be considered within this framework. Although the anti-amendment storm is already in the past, and Hong Kong has also become ”Hong Kong, China”, there is obviously still a long way to go before the reunification of people’s hearts with the mainland could be achieved. The underlying cause involves exactly the clash of different world views and how a path to reconciliation has yet to be found. In such circumstances, adopting a soft-sell approach to instil patriotism and national security education in the people may be more effective than a hard-sell approach via political slogans.
The atmosphere of Hong Kong society has been very tense these few years. It is true that ”soft resistance” prevails, but the situation of preferring left rather than right is equally concerning. When even a politically incorrect comment due to a slip of the tongue can be described as ”endangering national security”, such a social atmosphere is definitely detrimental to Hong Kong’s development.
Ming Pao Editorial 2024.03.27: To maintain national security and seek development, the social atmosphere must return to normal
The “Maintaining National Security Ordinance” officially came into effect last Saturday. Chief Executive Li Jiachao talked about the subsequent work and mentioned “maintaining national security in three aspects” and “fighting for the economy in four aspects.” Hong Kong’s entry into the “post-Article 23 legislative period” certainly does not mean that the work of safeguarding national security has come to an abrupt end. However, the top priority must be to strive for development, and maintaining international advantages is the key to supporting Hong Kong’s positioning as “Eight Centers”.
In the new era, Hong Kong needs to re-understand the country and the world. Patriotism and national security education do not necessarily have to be hard-sold. Moisturizing things quietly can sometimes be more effective. In the past few years, Hong Kong has continued to be in a state of high tension, and there is a tendency in society to prefer the left to the right. If we want to return to the nature of an economic city, the social atmosphere must also return to normal. The government can play a key role in creating an inclusive and harmonious atmosphere.
The legislation on Article 23 has been completed. Chief Executive Lee Ka-chiu said yesterday that Hong Kong is striving hard for economy and development. The government’s key tasks are four-fold, including fully implementing the measures in the “Policy Address” and “Budget” to promote economy and development, and taking a good grasp of the world. Opportunities and opportunities in China, actively “grabbing talents and businesses” to enhance Hong Kong’s competitiveness, and developing the internal economy, actively hosting various major events, and promoting tourism, consumption and investment.
Li Jiachao said that the purpose of the Regulations on Safeguarding National Security is to effectively prevent, stop and punish behaviors and activities that endanger national security. The government will combine national security education, patriotism education and Chinese culture education to promote it at the school and community levels.
In the new era, Hong Kong needs to break away from its Western roots and understand that the Western world does not equal the international community. Of course, not being Western-centered does not mean rejecting the West; as a highly Westernized society, Hong Kong has no reason to go to the other extreme and self-denial in disguise. What Hong Kong really needs is to see the world from a higher perspective and reshape a worldview based on a multi-polar world and diverse civilizations.
Issues related to national security education, patriotism education and Chinese culture education also need to be considered within this framework. Although the anti-extradition law storm has become a thing of the past, and Hong Kong has become “China’s Hong Kong”, there is still a gap between the return of people’s hearts and minds. What is involved behind this is the collision of different worldviews, and no way to reconcile has yet been found. Under such circumstances , the soft-selling of patriotism and national security education through subtle influence may be more effective than the hard-selling of political slogans.
The social atmosphere in Hong Kong has been quite tense in recent years, and soft confrontation does exist. However, the situation of preferring the left to the right is also a cause for concern. If you accidentally say something politically incorrect, you will be said to be “endangering national security.” In this way The atmosphere is definitely not conducive to the development of Hong Kong.
/ Glossary new words /
veer：to change direction suddenly
instil：to gradually put an idea or attitude into somebody’s mind; to make somebody feel, think or behave in a particular way over a period of time
a slip of the pen/tongue：a small mistake in something that you write or say
■Suspension of publication: The English version will be suspended from March 29th and will resume on April 15th.Editorial Department
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2024-04-01 13:44:01
