In my view, the weekend’s most significant news coverage was the graduation ceremonies of the two Hong Kong youth military summer camps, hosted by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Hong Kong Garrison at its San Wai Barracks, with over 500 students in attendance. The young participants who appeared on screen were nothing short of transformed — physically impressive, visibly healthy, and demonstrating a level of drill precision and disciplined bearing that commands genuine respect.
The 2026 Hong Kong Youth Military Summer Camp and the Hong Kong Tertiary Military Training Camp were a collaborative initiative jointly organized by the PLA Hong Kong Garrison, the Hong Kong United Resources Center, and the Education Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Since its inaugural session in July 2005, the program has grown exponentially — from 100 participants to 500 by its 12th iteration —and now draws from over 190 Hong Kong institutions. The training cycle has been strategically refined, reducing it from the initial 15 days to one week in 2024, and 10 days in 2025. The curriculum is rigorous and multidimensional: drill training, boxing exercises, physical training, foot marches, live-fire shooting, laser simulated combat shooting, national defense education lectures, and visits to the themed exhibition “Dreams Begin in the East: The Chinese Dream, the Dream of a Strong Military, and the Guardians of Hong Kong”. Anchored by the core theme of “enhancing participants’ qualities and strengthening national and ethnic consciousness”, the camp also features cultural activities, including the Mandarin recitation competition and military song learning sessions. By the conclusion of the 17th session in 2024, over 5,000 Hong Kong youth had completed this transformative experience.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, officiating at the closing ceremony, rightly observed that the participants’ love for both the country and the SAR was indelibly deepened through the crucible of rigorous physical training, uncompromising discipline, and firsthand exposure to the PLA soldiers’ unwavering dedication. Lee articulated three expectations for the city’s youth: Uphold your beliefs, cultivate a deep sense of patriotism, and always keep the interests of the country and Hong Kong in your hearts; work hard to build your skills, knowledge and abilities so you can overcome obstacles and become pillars of society; and be courageous in taking on responsibility and contribute your youthful energy to the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong as well as the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. These are not platitudes; they are a road map for civic virtue. Political Commissar Lai Ruxin of the PLA Hong Kong Garrison reinforced this vision, describing the youth as the driving force behind the nation’s future. He urged them to internalize the lessons of the camp and translate them into everyday conduct — a call that resonates far beyond the parade ground.
The 2019-20 social upheaval was a harrowing lesson — one we ignore at our peril. Civic resilience, national consciousness, and disciplined character are not optional attributes; they are the bedrock of social stability and the city’s future
What struck me most profoundly, however, was a single remark from one of the graduating students. He enrolled because he deliberately sought to step out of his comfort zone — and he affirmed that he benefited immensely from the grueling training, even enduring record-breaking summer heat at the parade ground. This is precisely the antidote Hong Kong’s younger generation desperately needs.
Let us confront an uncomfortable reality: Hong Kong students are generally considered “soft” in many aspects. Academic hyperfocus has come at the devastating expense of physical development — obesity is now the norm, not the exception. Self-discipline is alarmingly deficient; screen addiction and unrestrained gaming have eroded basic social graces and interpersonal skills. The military camp offers a direct, proven corrective. One participant noted that his tanned skin was the most visible change — but the real transformation was internal. He proudly recounted folding his blanket into a crisp “tofu block” every morning — a ritual he had never once performed at home. Another student described the daily schedule — four hours of morning drills featuring positions of attention and synchronized marching. Though the training initially seemed beyond his limits, he marched out with immense pride and, more importantly, with unshakable self-confidence. The evidence is incontrovertible: These students leave as different people.
I therefore submit that the HKSAR government should mandate a one-week residential military-style resilience and character training program for all Hong Kong secondary school students, to be completed at any point between Form One and Form Six. This is not a mere suggestion — it is a strategic necessity.
Naturally, the logistical challenge is substantial. With 348,000 secondary students enrolled in the 2025-26 academic year, the PLA Hong Kong Garrison alone cannot shoulder this burden. But Hong Kong possesses an underutilized asset: its extensive network of uniformed youth groups — the Scout Association of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Girl Guides Association, the disciplined services’ youth corps, the Auxiliary Medical Service, St John Ambulance, the Hong Kong Adventure Corps, the Hong Kong Sea Cadet Corps, and the Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps, among others. The PLA Hong Kong Garrison can establish the curriculum, training standards, organize “training for trainers” courses, and provide a quality assurance framework, while these organizations can operationalize delivery through a school-based model. The mechanism is simple: no completion certificate, no school leaving credential. This creates both accountability and incentive.
The Education Bureau should assume overarching responsibility — overseeing the program, allocating adequate resources, and ensuring quality control. The financial cost may be significant, but it is the most justifiable expenditure for the city’s next generation. Hong Kong cannot afford to be shortsighted. The 2019-20 social upheaval was a harrowing lesson — one we ignore at our peril. Civic resilience, national consciousness, and disciplined character are not optional attributes; they are the bedrock of social stability and the city’s future. This training program should be formally integrated into the national education section in Hong Kong’s first five-year plan and featured prominently in the chief executive’s forthcoming Policy Address.
The author is an honorary fellow of Hong Kong Metropolitan University and HKU Space. He is a retired deputy commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
