Much like the mainlanders, it seems China is hell-bent on desisting Hongkongers from enjoying any basic fundamental freedoms. Some new restrictions on how schools in Hong Kong should function and operate have been issued in the forms of guidelines by the government aiming to keep the citizens more sensitized to the new security laws.

Predicting the obvious hostility towards it, the guideline was issued with an advisory that teachers should refrain from regarding this change as a controversial topic up for debate as the National Security Law is of great significance.

The guideline includes elaborative provisions with regards to the school curriculum and talks about ‘improvement’ in existing courses. Issues of national security will be taught through a variety of subjects like music, history, general studies etc.

As young as six-year-old children are now supposed to learn about the huge importance of the national security law and differentiation between friendliness and over interference by foreign territories. Kindergartners will be learning about Chinese history and culture which officials believe will help in their upbringing as Chinese.

Children in primary schools are now expected to learn all about terrorism, collusion subversion and secession- four main crimes under the new security law. The motive behind this unpleasant step is plain evident – to put down its most valiant territory in obedience and under control of communist China.

As much as the National Security Law is vague about what constitutes a ‘political crime’ so is the guideline which does not clearly define what activity and action might be seen as a potential threat to national security. The guidelines also include continuous monitoring and surveillance of teachers and staff and removing any materials or books which is damaging to the new law.

The National Security Law was brought in last year in June because of the mass pro-democracy and anti-China protests in 2019. In this protest, a huge number of teenagers participated and hence Chinese figurehead has decided to make Hong Kong’s youth obedient and loyal to China.

Within the teaching material, there is an educational animated cartoon video of an owl teaching students about Hong Kong’s political establishment and duty of the city towards the mainland.

Any activity in schools such as raising certain slogans, wearing certain items, that might be considered as political will attract sanctions. Teachers are advised to inform and call the police if they suspect any violations.
These teachers will also be monitoring and recording children’s behaviour and they are required to report any sighting of actions of pro-democracy.

This new change will also hit the position of Hong Kong which serves as a popular place in Asia for international academic exchange. Last year in October, more than 100 signatories raised concerns about extraterritorial interference of China that could affect academic freedom globally. For any academic work which might be considered as a renegade by China, any scholar or academician passing through Hong Kong fears imprisonment under the new law.

Beijing had also previously attempted to infuse Hong Kong’s education system with China’s ideology but its efforts were crumbled by mass protests in 2012. Recently when the UK initiated a resettlement program for British National (overseas) Passport holders, China notified
that it will no longer realise BN(o) as a valid document. This step was taken as more than 3 million people holds a BN(o) passport.

This change in the education system is the last nail in the coffin for many families who were planning to move abroad. A large diaspora has already begun. Approximately 3 Lacs people are expected to relocate to the UK while many to Canada and Australia.

The owl video in the new curriculum instills in the minds of the young people that Hong Kong is an inalienable part of our country.

Hongkongers enjoy a far greater level of freedoms and rights than people in the mainland. The new guidelines have made it simpler for the communist party led China to reduce Hong Kong’s independence and cull down any protests thereby snatching their right of free speech.
This new change is aimed at extinguishing any political dissent in the and confining critical inquiry.