Hong Kong Policy Address: HK$60 million earmarked for kindergartens’ ‘national education’ scheme

A total of HK$60 million will be earmarked as a one-off funding scheme to facilitate kindergarten pupils’ learning of Chinese culture, Chief Executive John Lee announced in his first Policy Address on Wednesday.

“A one-off grant of HK$60 million will be provided for kindergartens joining the Kindergarten Education Scheme (KES) to organise school-based activities that help students learn Chinese culture from an early age,” Lee said.

It was one of a number of objectives mentioned by Lee designed to promote national education within and beyond the classroom. Schools will also be encouraged to enrich their curricula with “elements such as the history and geography of our country,” while government schools will launch a series of inter-school activities called “Love Our Home; Treasure Our Country.”

The requirement that newly appointed teachers at public sector schools pass a test on the Basic Law and national security law will be extended to cover all Direct Subsidy Scheme Schools and kindergartens joining the KES from the next school year.

The government has ramped up its efforts in patriotic education following the 2019 extradition bill protests, with officials blaming young people’s weak sense of national identity as a root problem.

The chief executive also said that around 780 publicly-funded primary and secondary schools had established over 2,000 school pairings with institutions in mainland China, and the government aimed to increase the number of Hong Kong schools participating in the scheme by 10 per cent by end of next year.

Policy Address 2022 – full coverage:

Hong Kong lawmaker questions Kai Tak public housing plan, says it may block views from private complexes

116,600 young Hongkongers left workforce in past 2 years

Hong Kong’s social divisions should be recognised, not wished away

Explainer: Hong Kong’s national security crackdown – month 28

Hong Kong Policy Address: Civil service reform needs more than a carrot and stick scheme

Hong Kong Policy Address: Talent attraction measures should be broader, say business chamber heads

Hong Kong’s John Lee defends labour sec.’s criticism of political cartoonist mocking talent attraction scheme

Hong Kong Policy Address: How much of John Lee’s maiden speech was old wine in new bottles?

Hong Kong Policy Address: 1,000 days on, still no roadmap out of Covid rules that impoverished thousands

Hong Kong Policy Address: 30,000 new transitional public flats will not be ‘remodelled containers,’ officials say

Hong Kong Policy Address: John Lee urged to set timetable for further Covid relaxations, and local security law

Hong Kong Policy Address: Satisfaction rate for John Lee’s first speech lowest among all ex-leaders – survey

Hong Kong Policy Address: Lawmaker, vulnerable residents take aim at John Lee’s plans to tackle poverty

Support HKFP  |  Code of Ethics  |  Error/typo?  |  Contact Us  |  Newsletter  | Transparency & Annual Report

Support press freedom & help us surpass 1,000 monthly Patrons: 100% independent, governed by an ethics code & not-for-profit, Hong Kong Free Press is #PressingOn with impartial, award-winning, frontline coverage.