Jointly organised by the Home Affairs Bureau (HAB), the Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education (CPCE) and the Working Group on Local Community under the Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee the Basic Law Quiz Competition Final cum Prize Presentation Ceremony was held today (April 28).
Speaking at the ceremony, the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah, said that upon the resumption of the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong, the People's Republic of China (PRC) established the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in accordance with the provisions of Article 31 of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China. The Constitution provides a basis for the Basic Law which prescribes the systems to be practised in the HKSAR, in order to ensure the implementation of the basic policies of the PRC regarding Hong Kong, i.e. "one country, two systems", "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy. The Basic Law also upholds national unity and territorial integrity and maintains the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.
He added that in view of the importance of the Constitution and the Basic Law to Hong Kong, bureaux and departments of the HKSAR Government have been dedicated to enhancing public understanding of the Constitution and the Basic Law. He said that the HKSAR Government would continue the promotion of the Basic Law through different channels and activities to help the public to have a comprehensive and accurate understanding of the Basic Law from different angles. He said he also hoped that different sectors could make use of the advantages of the "two-systems" on the basis of "one-country" to move towards a brighter future for Hong Kong.
The quiz competition covered all chapters of the Basic Law, its development and the relationship between the Constitution and the Basic Law. Divided into Family, Senior Primary School, Secondary School and Open categories, participants first answered questions about the Basic Law online, or completed question sheets published by the organisers and distributed to schools and community organisations. Those with the highest scores in each category were selected by ballot to attend the final. They were then selected from each category on the spot for question sessions to compete for the champion and first- and second runner-up prizes. The quiz competition this year received an overwhelming response, attracting over 23 000 participants.
To tie in with the quiz competition, the organisers hosted two seminars from January to February this year to introduce to secondary school teachers and students the development and practice of the Basic Law, as well as the relationship between the Constitution and the Basic Law.
The HAB has been working closely with the CPCE to promote the Constitution and the Basic Law at the community level through various channels, including publications for young people and thematic exhibitions and interactive games about the Basic Law in the Civic Education Resource Centre. Sponsorship is also granted through the Community Participation Scheme and the Co-operation Scheme with District Councils every year to support civic education activities to be held in the community, including promotional activities for the Constitution and the Basic Law.
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