Hong Kong’s No. 2 official has highlighted the link between China’s national security and the safety of Hong Kong and the general public during a speech to celebrate the city’s 9th National Security Education Day.
To mark the event, the Security Bureau’s six disciplined services kicked off proceedings on Monday with a flag-raising ceremony at the Police College, which Chan officiated.
“The solemn flag-raising ceremony today further highlights our love and loyalty to our country and nation. It enhances patriotic awareness, national identity, and the conscious effort to safeguard national security,” Chan said in Cantonese.
He said that Hong Kong “had swiftly restored stability” after Beijing imposed a national security law on the city in June 2020, adding that authorities had recently completed legislation of additional, homegrown security legislation.
“The security of Hong Kong is premised on the security of our motherland, and the security of our home is premised on the security of our country,” Chan said, reiterating a statement made by Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council Xia Baolong during last year’s National Security Education Day.
Chan added that patriotic education was closely linked to national security education. The Constitution and Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee, which is led by Chan, established a Working Group on Patriotic Education in early April.
The government and the working group will cooperate to promote patriotism through four dimensions: school, community, history and culture, and media.
Since 2015
Beijing has increasingly emphasised national security since Xi Jinping came to power in 2012. On April 15, 2014, Xi raised the concept of “holistic approach to national security,” saying the country should safeguard national security in multiple areas, including in the economy and the military, and through culture, technology and space.
On July 1, 2015, China established a new national security law, which designated April 15 as National Security Education Day.
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