As part of its continued focus on “national security” concerns in Hong Kong, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has begun classes on “Xi Jinping thought” as part of the territory’s curriculum, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said.
Since the passage of the National Security Law in Hong Kong, the council has given a quarterly report to the Legislative Yuan on Hong Kong’s status.
All aspects of Hong Kong’s development are dominated and constrained by the CCP’s focus on national security, the report said.
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Last year marked the fifth year in a row that Hong Kong’s civil society groups failed to hold marches or demonstrations on July 1, it said.
Instead of peaceful demonstrations, police officers were on high alert and armored vehicles patrolled the streets, the report said.
Other indicators of the intimidation Hong Kongers face include the harassment of student unions and punishments even for those who organize peaceful rallies, it said.
The report cited comments on Nov. 24 last year by Zhang Yong (張勇), deputy chairman of the Hong Kong Basic Law Committee and deputy chairman of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People’s Congress, who said that “Hong Kong governed by Hong Kongers” does not mean it is exclusively governed by Hong Kongers.
The central government and patriots must also be included, it cited Zhang as saying, adding that public opinion supported that definition.
High-school social studies courses now include readings on “Xi Jinping thought” — referring to China’s president (習近平) — and “socialism with Chinese characteristics,” it said.
Classes on religion focus on how students can contribute to the country, and refer to the National Security Law and other legal provisions, it added.
The Hong Kong Education Bureau updated its School Administration Guide to require that schools monitor their libraries to immediately remove materials deemed detrimental to national security, the report said.
Principals at primary and secondary schools would also receive excerpts of Xi’s book to boost their ideological education, it said.
In July last year, the Hong Kong Legislative Council established a new Social Workers Registration Board that requires all members to take an oath of allegiance to the Basic Law, and the governments of Hong Kong and China, it said.
Meanwhile, Nicholas Philips, a foreign judge, left Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal, leaving only six justices, down 60 percent from 2020, the report said.
A proposal by the Legislative Council to expand protection at “critical infrastructure” has raised foreign investors’ concerns about expanded regulatory targets, lowering confidence in Hong Kong’s ability to attract international investments, the report said.
The MAC would continue to monitor Hong Kong’s integration with China and warn people of the potential dangers of traveling to Hong Kong, the report said.
On Dec. 24 last year, the Hong Kong government published its third bounty list, promising HK$1 million (US$128,407) for information leading to the capture of one of six democracy advocates, and a list of prohibited activities under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, it said.
The US Congressional-Executive Commission on China said in its annual report in December last year that “Hong Kong officials may now be more zealous than their mainland counterparts in enforcing national security laws.”
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