Following is a question by Dr the Hon Hoey Simon Lee and a written reply by the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, in the Legislative Council today (November 27):
Question:
There are views pointing out that in the seventh term District Councils (DCs), District Officer serving as Chairman of the relevant DC has opened a new chapter in district governance. This not only ensures the Government's leading role in district affairs but also facilitates the co-ordination of education and promotion of the Constitution and the Basic Law at the community level, so that members of the public have more opportunities to be aware of and understand the Basic Law, as well as the history, role and responsibilities of Hong Kong in the development of the country, while nurturing their sense of national identity. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) how the Government makes good use of the seventh term DCs to support promotion activities or studies on the Constitution and the Basic Law;
(2) of the amount of budget earmarked by the Government for the work of DCs in various districts relating to promotion activities on the Constitution and the Basis Law after the seventh term DCs commenced operation;
(3) of the respective numbers of promotion activities or studies relating to the Constitution and the Basic Law conducted in each district since the seventh term DCs commenced operation;
(4) whether it has formulated indicators for specific projects of the seventh term DCs in order to continuously step up promotion of the Constitution and the Basic Law and assess the effectiveness of the relevant projects on an ongoing basis; and
(5) whether it has assessed the respective effectiveness of the publicity and education work in each district in promoting the Constitution and the Basic Law in the seventh term DCs?
Reply:
President,
Having consulted the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau and the Home Affairs Department, the consolidated reply to the question raised by Dr the Hon Hoey Simon Lee is as follows:
The Constitution is the root and origin of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Basic Law. The Constitution and the Basic Law together form the constitutional basis and order of the HKSAR, providing a solid legal basis and constitutional framework for the country's basic policies on the HKSAR, including "one country, two systems", while at the same time providing the strongest safeguard for the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong. The HKSAR Government has all along attached great importance to the promotion on the Constitution, the Basic Law, "one country, two systems", and national security related legislation. The Constitution and Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee (CBLPSC) led by the Chief Secretary for Administration has been providing steer, making plans and coordinating the related efforts of various parties concerned both in the Government and in the community. Five sub-groups were set up under the CBLPSC to, through diversified promotional activities, proactively promote the Constitution, the Basic Law, and national security related legislation to different target groups, including schools, local community, young people, industrial, commercial and professional sectors and community outside Hong Kong, etc.
At the district level, the District Offices of 18 districts have been striving to enhance the national and civic awareness of members of the public, including working with different district organisations to co-organise or sponsor activities to promote the Constitution and Basic Law, as well as strengthening the promotional efforts through the network and support of the District Councils. These activities include promotions and exhibitions, seminars, workshops, carnivals and quiz competitions etc, for instance, displaying the national flag and organising carnival under the theme of the Constitution and the Basic Law on the Constitution Day to publicise and promote the related messages to the people in the district. This year, the District Offices, together with district organisations, have organised or are planning to organise 64 activities, with an expected outreach of around 60 000 people. Besides, we have been sponsoring different non-governmental organisations and district organistions through various sponsorship schemes such as the "Constitution and Basic Law Promotion Activity and Research Sponsorship Scheme" and the "Community Participation Scheme" to organise a diverse range of activities, with a view to widely promoting the Constitution, the Basic Law, and national security related legislation to the community.
The HKSAR Government will continue to strengthen publicity and education of the Constitution and the Basic Law through diverse channels and innovative approaches, including displaying large outdoor publicity messages, producing publicity video clippings, making extensive use of online platforms and social media for publicity, organising various kinds of physical activities to reach into the community, providing sponsorship to non-governmental organisations or community organisations for conducting different promotion and research, and consolidating community efforts for enhanced publicity, etc, so as to strengthen public understanding on the Constitution, the Basic Law, and national security related legislation. Also, to strengthen the related work, the 2024 Policy Address has enhanced the relevant key performance indicators: to organise no less than 730 promotional activities with no less than 940 000 participants and no less than 26 million views via online publicity in 2025. We will make every effort to take forward the relevant publicity and education work.
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