Calls for enhanced patriotic education in HK & Macau
BEIJING – Wang Yang, chairman of the nation’s top political advisory body, yesterday called on the members of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) to firmly back the full implementation of the “patriots governing Hong Kong” principle and enhance patriotic education among youth in Hong Kong and Macau.
A total of 37 members of the CPPCC National Committee are from Macau.
Wang made the remarks when delivering a work report at the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the CPPCC at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Wang stressed that the central government will firmly support the full implementation of the principle of “patriots governing Hong Kong”.
Wang said that during the past year the CPPCC National Committee has underlined its Hong Kong and Macau members’ political responsibility and expressed support for the law-based governance of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government.
He encouraged the members of the CPPCC National Committee to deepen connections with Hong Kong and Macau compatriots, and actively research and discuss how to strengthen patriotic education among young people in the two special administrative regions.
Wang also said that this year over 10 campaigns to expand channels for consensus-building will be held by the nation’s top advisory body.
“We will strengthen unity and friendship with our compatriots overseas and in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, and conduct studies and consultations on fostering patriotism among young people in Hong Kong and Macau,” he stressed.
Macau’s CPPCC members back Wang’s remarks
Meanwhile, several members of the CPPCC National Committee from Macau yesterday told the local media in online interviews from Beijing that they support Wang’s call for “patriots ruling Hong Kong” and the need to strengthen young people’s patriotic education in Hong Kong and Macau.
Macau Legislative Assembly (AL) member-cum-lawyer Vong Hin Fai said that Wang’s call for “patriots ruling Hong Kong” was having an “enlightening effect” on Macau and would involve legislation in the long run. Vong said that the local legislature’s election system, its membership and norms for civil servants should all be considered in line with the legal system.
Chan Hong, an indirectly-elected member of the local legislature from the education sector, said that there was a need to actively promote and consolidate patriotic education among local youths.
Macau’s former anti-corruption commissioner Cheong U said he believed that patriotism is the mainstream of Macau’s civil society and that the Macau SAR has always practised patriotism in its governance.
Tina Ho Teng Iat, the sister of Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng, said that Macau’s members of the CPPCC National Committee should reinforce their political responsibility in the future and further support the local government in governing according to the law.
Tina Ho said that Macau’s current prosperity and stability have been hard won and should therefore be cherished and maintained. She urged all people in Macau to work together in order to seek development, promote harmony and improve conditions in Macau overall. She also called for more “positive energy” to further promote patriotism in Macau and urged Macau’s young generation to contribute more to the development of Macau, the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the nation.
Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng will attend the opening meeting of the National People’s Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People this morning.
Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee Chairman Wang Yang addresses the opening ceremony of the nation’s top advisory body at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing yesterday. – Xinhua
