BEIJING: The patriotic education of teenagers is to be highlighted in schools and families, with measures taken to help residents of the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions and Taiwan enhance their sense of identity, a legislator said recently.
The requirement has been written into a draft patriotic education law, which was submitted to an ongoing session of the Standing Committee of National People’s Congress, China’s top legislature, for first review on Monday.
“While clarifying that all residents should receive patriotic education, the draft calls for schools and families to provide stronger education for children and teenagers,” Xu Anbiao, deputy head of the NPC Standing Committee’s Legislative Affairs Commission, said while explaining the legal document to lawmakers. The draft also specifies rules on how to carry out patriotic education for government officials, employees of enterprises and residents from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.
It states that the country should take measures to promote historical and cultural education for and introduce the national conditions to Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents, helping enhance their sense of identity and their cohesion with traditional Chinese culture and ensuring they can safeguard national unity. “Formulating the law is a legal means to guarantee and advance patriotic education in the new era. It will have a far-reaching significance for inspiring national spirit, promoting national development and achieving national rejuvenation by rule of law,” Xu said. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
