The “‘Salute to the National Flag’ Hong Kong & Macau Youth Flag-Raising Teams’ Beijing Visit Delegation”, led by Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki, was received today by Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council Ding Xuexiang at the Great Hall of the People.
Mr Chan expressed deep gratitude to Mr Ding for personally guiding the Hong Kong and Macau youths, and even more so to the nation for providing this valuable opportunity for students to take part in the solemn flag‑raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square and experience the historical culture and development achievements of the capital.
The Chief Secretary said this was a rare and profound patriotic education experience. During the solemn flag‑raising ceremony, students felt the dignity of the national flag and anthem up close, deepening their understanding of the symbolic meaning of the flag, as well as the national situation and development.
Through a rich itinerary of visits, the students also gained a genuine appreciation of the challenges and accomplishments of the nation’s journey from history to rejuvenation, further strengthening their national identity, their sense of national pride, affection for and sense of belonging to it.
Mr Chan emphasised that the trip was of great significance for promoting patriotic education in Hong Kong’s primary and secondary schools.
In addition to textbook learning, he explained, bringing students to the sites of national history and culture allows them to experience emotions firsthand and deepen their understanding through real stories, which greatly contributes to patriotic education.
Mr Chan said the delegation’s itinerary organically integrated national flag education, history education, cultural education and national development education, making patriotism more concrete, vivid and powerful in the hearts of students, guiding them to consciously safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, and aspiring to become a new generation that loves the country and Hong Kong, and is willing to take responsibility.