China News Service, February 7. According to Hong Kong's "Sing Tao Daily", in response to the revision of the "Regional Flag and Regional Emblem Ordinance", the Hong Kong Education Bureau issued a notice on the 6th to update the guidelines for schools to raise the national flag and regional flag ceremonies, and Schools are required to not only teach knowledge and etiquette related to the national flag and national emblem, but also incorporate the education of the regional flag and regional emblem into the curriculum, including the symbolic meaning of the regional flag and regional emblem, and the regulations for the use of the regional flag.
The Hong Kong Education Bureau will continue to update online resources and provide professional development courses for teachers to help teachers understand how to cultivate national identity through flag-raising ceremonies.
The Hong Kong Education Bureau stated that in response to the revised "Regional Flag and Regional Emblem Ordinance" which will be revised in November 2023, the regional flag and regional emblem will be included in primary and secondary education in accordance with the regulations. All primary, secondary and special schools must educate students on the symbolic meaning of the regional flag and regional emblem, the regulations for raising and using the regional flag, and the etiquette that should be observed when raising and lowering the regional flag.
At present, primary and secondary schools and special schools in Hong Kong are required to hoist the national flag on every school day and New Year's Day, the anniversary of the handover and National Day. Appropriate arrangements must be made according to special circumstances, such as when the government flies the flag at half-mast due to circumstances. As for the hoisting of the regional flag, there is no need to do so. It is a rigid rule that the flag must be hoisted at the same time only when there are enough flagpoles.
After the guidelines are updated, the SAR government still maintains the relevant regulations, and primary, secondary and special schools can still decide whether to upgrade based on the school's situation. In addition, kindergartens, international schools and private schools that only offer non-local courses will raise and lower the national flag every day according to the situation.
The Hong Kong Education Bureau also reminded that schools must pay attention to the correct method of raising and lowering the national flag and regional flag, and should also raise and lower the national flag and regional flag in accordance with the provisions of the National Flag and National Emblem Ordinance and the revised "Regional Flag and Regional Emblem Ordinance".