Teachers Must Study Xi's July 1 Speech

Xi at the July 1 handover ceremony in Hong Kong

After Chinese President Xi Jinping gave his speech in Hong Kong on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the handover back to the mainland, civil servants were directed to study it.

The business sector, with such bodies as the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, and the Business and Professional Alliance of Hong Kong, as well as the IT industry in Science Park held study seminars.

Now the education sector is mandating that teachers must "study and learn" Xi's address, that they had to read and understand its "key messages" including his expectations for the city.

Teachers from various schools study Xi's words

What are these main points?

- Improving governance

- Creating a strong impetus for growth

- Handling people's concerns

- Maintaining social harmony and stability

The Education Bureau says the speech "fully expresses President Xi's love and care for young people in Hong Kong, and his earnest hope of providing "better education for children".

Educators were also expected to "accurately comprehend the constitutional order under 'one country, two systems', deepen their awareness of the trends in both the country and the world, and understand the importance of Hong Kong's integration into the overall development of our country," the bureau said.

Primary and secondary schools will receive copies of the speech, while 

Lam says teachers should study speech

Nancy Lam Chui-ling, principal of Tsuen Wan Trade Association Chu Cheong Kindergarten, also supported the bureau's decision.

"While kindergarten children may be too young to understand the messages in the president's speech, it is important for teachers to study it," she said.

"Teachers form a key part of local education. They should develop a positive attitude about Hong Kong and its development so that they can properly teach our children."

First of all, what are teachers supposed to impart from Xi's speech? His main points are broad and more directed at senior government officials. Also, if a teacher doesn't have a positive attitude about his or her profession, then they wouldn't be teachers in the first place. Surely they don't need what the president says to "guide" them. 

This exercise of making people read Xi's speech and have study sessions to discuss it are just a bid to tick boxes. It is also a very strong signal of how Hong Kong is being further mainlandized.

Veteran China-watcher Johnny Lau Yui-siu doubted the effectiveness of such "formalistic seminars" to study state leaders' speeches just to show they were trying to "unify thoughts" within the sector.

Meanwhile political scientist Chan Wai-keung, from the Hong Kong Community College of Polytechnic University, also expressed concerns about "formalism".

Xi's book available at Hong Kong Book Fair

"That is very mainland-style. Hong Kong people are not quite used to this... If it is just... for formalities' sake, it will not serve much purpose. People may just show up for the sake of attending and the Hong Kong public will not take it too seriously either," Chan said.

The Hong Kong government has been given the directive to push its residents to conform with the mainland, and studying Xi's speech is one way to emulate what is done in China.

When I was in Beijing and worked in state media, in the late afternoon once in a while my local colleagues would disappear to study then President Hu Jintao's "Three Represents" speech.

A few confided it was very boring, but at the same time were resigned to the reality that they had to attend these study sessions as part of their obligation as a Communist Party member.

Hong Kong residents must study Xi's speech, member or not... Indoctrination is moving full speed ahead...