The Education Bureau (EDB) issued a circular today (June 18) to all primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong to provide guidelines on the display of the national flag and the regional flag, and the playing and singing of the national anthem as well as latest information on curriculum resources and support measures.
An EDB spokesman said, "The National Anthem Ordinance was gazetted and came into effect on June 12, 2020. According to the Ordinance, the Secretary for Education must give directions for the inclusion of the national anthem in primary and secondary education. The spirit of the National Anthem Ordinance is to respect the national anthem, while there should not be any public and intentional acts to insult the national anthem or misuse the national anthem. All primary and secondary schools should provide opportunities for students to learn to sing the national anthem, understand its history and spirit as well as observe the etiquette for playing and singing the national anthem."
The spokesman stressed that national flag, national anthem and national emblem are symbols and signs of a nation, and should be respected by every citizen. Fostering students' national identity is one of the key learning goals of primary and secondary education. Moreover, enabling students to understand the development of their own country in different aspects, such as history, culture, economy, technology and political systems and laws, as well as cultivating in them a national sentiment, are the educational obligation of schools. Schools should educate students about the national flag, the national anthem and the national emblem of their own country. This is part of moral, civic and national education, and helps enhance students' sense of national identity.
The spokesman said that primary and secondary schools must display the national flag and the regional flag as well as play and sing the national anthem when holding celebration activities for New Year's Day (January 1), the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day (July 1) and the National Day (October 1). The EDB also strongly advises schools to display the national flag and the regional flag, as well as to play and sing the national anthem on important days and special occasions, such as the first day of a school year, open day and graduation ceremony; and encourages schools to display the national flag and the regional flag, and/or play and sing the national anthem regularly.
The spokesman said that the learning content of the national flag, the national anthem and the regional flag has long been incorporated in the local curricula of different subjects. The EDB has been providing schools with related curriculum resources and professional development programmes for teachers. To support the school sector to capitalise on the existing foundation, as well as to teach students to know and respect the national flag and the regional flag, to sing the national anthem and understand its history and spirit, and to observe the etiquette for playing and singing the national anthem, the EDB has reviewed the curriculum, compiled the relevant resources and enhanced the curriculum support measures. The circular issued today has also provided schools with the latest information on curriculum resources and support measures.
The spokesman added that the EDB will maintain close communication with the school sector and provide suitable support as appropriate to help schools take forward the related work.
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