The implications of Hong Kong’s National Security Law (NSL), which came into force in July 2020, are still being worked out in many spheres - not least education.
During the protests of 2019-2020, schools and universities were widely blamed by 'patriots' for fomenting sedition among Hong Kong youth. In the aftermath of those protests, the NSL mandated an educational overhaul designed to ensure the inculcation of loyalty to China’s Communist regime.
In this event, we will discuss various measures introduced under the auspices of the NSL, and how these have been justified by the authorities and by 'patriotic' voices locally and on the mainland.
We will argue that Hong Kong’s cultural distinctiveness has in fact never been acknowledged by Beijing, and that this partly explains the tensions bedevilling Hong Kong-mainland relations.
This event will be particularly useful for those interested in politics of education, China, and education in conflict-affected contexts.
