The first patriotic education base for young Hong Kong and Macao people was inaugurated in Beijing on Thursday, marking a milestone in fostering patriotism in the regions and answering the call for more nationwide efforts to deepen a sense of national identity among youngsters from the two cities.
On the 80th anniversary of victory of Japan’s unconditional surrender and the end of the World Anti-Fascist War, the base is set up within the Museum of the War of Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression near the Lugou Bridge. Located in southwest of Beijing, the bridge was the site of a battle on July 7, 1937 that marked the beginning of the nationwide resistance against Japanese aggression.
During the unveiling ceremony, Xu Qifang, executive deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, said that establishing the base will help deepen patriotic education among young people in Hong Kong and Macao.
Xu said he hopes that the base can pioneer innovative approaches to patriotic education for the regions' youth, and provide valuable insights into how such bases can best be constructed in future. He also highlighted the enduring tradition of patriotism among the people of Hong Kong and Macao, adding that patriotism is a cornerstone for the sustained success of the "one country, two systems" principle.
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Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government Eric Chan Kwok-ki, who also delivered a speech at the ceremony, said the establishment of the educational base marks a significant step forward in patriotic education in Hong Kong. This platform will allow young people from Hong Kong and Macao to deepen their understanding of the nation's history and to have a clearer sense of the mission they must carry forward in developing the motherland.
Chan said he supports the selection of the location for the education base and views the history of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression as the most compelling material for patriotic education.
He said that during the war, all Chinese people, including those from Hong Kong, fought for their homeland and justice, collectively defending the country's territories and national honor with their lives. He believes that revisiting this history near the Lugou Bridge will undoubtedly strengthen the determination of young people to play their part in the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Citing the establishment of the base as an example, Chan expressed his gratitude for the longstanding and robust support from the central government in promoting Hong Kong’s patriotic education. He also expressed his hope for the future development of more patriotic educational resources nationwide, allowing Hong Kong and Macao youth to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the country's history and achievements through on-site research and exchanges.
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Macao's Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture O Lam said that the museum, with its wealth of historical artifacts and detailed archival records, vividly brings history to life, serving as a dynamic classroom for patriotic education. She pledged she would maximize the base's potential as a platform to engage more Macao residents, particularly the youth, and encouraged residents to visit the base and experience the spirit of resistance against aggression firsthand. By doing this, she said she hopes the tradition of loving the country and Macao can be passed down from generation to generation.
Numerous officials from the central and the special administrative regions were present at the ceremony, including Executive Vice-Mayor of Beijing Xia Linmao.
Chan started his Beijing visit on Wednesday morning and returned to Hong Kong on Thursday afternoon. During his trip, he also visited officials of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council.
Contact the writer at amberwu@chinadailyhk.com
