The Chinese Communist authorities announced the establishment of the first “Hong Kong and Macau Youth Patriotism Education Base” in Beijing, which was criticized as a way to strengthen control over Hong Kong and Macau by targeting children when influence over adults proves ineffective. Experts believe that the “reform” of Hong Kong people has become a major concern for the Chinese leadership in Zhongnanhai. However, in reality, discontent with the Chinese Communist rulers is widespread across the country.
The People’s Daily Online reported on August 21 that the governments of Hong Kong and Macau have established the first “Hong Kong and Macau Youth Patriotism Education Base” in mainland China. Officials from the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee, the Central Propaganda Department, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Communist Youth League Central Committee, and the Beijing Municipal Committee attended the ceremony. State media claimed that this move was to implement the “important instructions of Xi Jinping” by fully utilizing so-called red resources in mainland China to establish more patriotism education bases, organize more visits for Hong Kong and Macau youth, and so on.
Dr. Lin Song, a political science Ph.D. from the University of New South Wales in Australia who is originally from Hong Kong, told Epoch Times that the Communist Party is now seeking to strengthen its control over Hong Kong and Macau. “They think that the people of Hong Kong and Macau are not patriotic enough. Of course, the definition of patriotism varies among us. We believe patriotism is loving the people of this country, but the Chinese Communist Party’s definition of patriotism is loving the Party, which is the biggest difference.”
However, he believes that the current efforts of the Communist Party to promote patriotism education are ridiculous. For example, the son of former Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying married a Finnish woman. “Why didn’t he marry a Chinese woman and instead conspire with a foreign power like Finland? Another example is pro-Beijing Hong Kong delegate Tam Yiu-chung. Both of his sons went to study in Australia. Why didn’t they study in China?”
Lai Rongwei, executive director of the Taiwan Inspiration Association, told Epoch Times that Xi Jinping’s application of Cultural Revolution thinking to govern Hong Kong is related to the shock felt by the Chinese Communist rulers during the anti-extradition movement.
In 2019, Hong Kong experienced a massive wave of protests against the extradition bill, leading to the arrest of over 10,000 people by the Hong Kong police in various demonstrations until October 31, 2022. The Chinese authorities cracked down harshly on this movement, which was seen as the most severe political crisis in Hong Kong since its inception.
In June 2020, China implemented the National Security Law in Hong Kong, triggering a backlash from opponents and prompting the United States to announce the revocation of Hong Kong’s special status recognition and the passage of the Hong Kong Autonomy Act.
Lai Rongwei stated that after the anti-extradition movement, Xi Jinping was determined to transform Hong Kong and Macau, with the aim of having so-called patriots govern these regions. However, older Hong Kong residents who have experienced the openness and freedom of Hong Kong and Macau are a significant concern for the leaders in Zhongnanhai.
The Hong Kong Book Fair took place from July 16 to 22 this year. On the opening day, a book launch event for Xi Jinping’s “writings” in traditional Chinese characters was held. However, according to media observers, after nearly an hour of observation, Xi’s “writings” displayed prominently at the book fair remained untouched.
“Because the people who are currently living in Hong Kong may be against Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party, but out of helplessness, they can only remain silent for now. Therefore, the Chinese Communist Party is targeting the youth, looking towards the future stability of its rule,” said Lai Rongwei.
In October 2023, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China passed the “Patriotism Education Law,” which came into effect in 2024 and included specific provisions for Hong Kong and Macau to carry out such “education.” In the fall of 2024, Hong Kong middle school textbooks integrated “Xi Jinping Thought” for the first time.
In 2024, the Hong Kong Education Bureau criticized students for singing the national anthem too softly and advocated for strengthening students’ confidence and habit of singing. Some netizens commented that even mainland China is not this strict, suggesting that they are preparing to groom the next generation in Hong Kong as loyal supporters of the Communist Party.
Lai Rongwei said that the Communist Party’s approach of targeting children for transformation is similar to the concentration camp model in Xinjiang, which creates ideological and even behavioral barriers between children and parents, resulting in intergenerational disconnect. This is a dehumanizing practice that will only lead to more social conflicts.
In August 2022, Chinese Ambassador to France Lu Shaye, in a media interview, mentioned that “after China reunifies Taiwan, they will provide re-education to the people of Taiwan.” At that time, some commentators believed that the re-education model implemented in Xinjiang might be extended to Hong Kong before being introduced to Taiwan. If democratic countries do not stop the Communist Party, then the repressive model of the Chinese regime could be exported worldwide.
Lin Song stated that the suppression faced by the people in Hong Kong by the Communist Party serves as a warning to the people in Taiwan. The people of Taiwan should not be fooled by the Chinese Communist Party.
Lai Rongwei said that Taiwan is currently facing similar challenges. Through so-called cross-strait exchanges, the Communist Party attracts teachers and students from Taiwan to visit China through local agents on the island. Even parents can take their children to China during the Dragon Boat Festival. The Communist Party’s united front tactics targeting youth are continuously being replicated.
“The Chinese Communist Party is using a subtle and invasive method to occupy the hearts and minds of our youth, indoctrinating them from a young age before their minds are fully formed. Taiwan is now grappling with this invasive red tide,” he said.
Following the implementation of the National Security Law in 2020, Hong Kong witnessed a new wave of emigration, with approximately 300,000 Hong Kong residents moving abroad to date.
Lin Song emphasized that the Communist Party’s push for patriotism education has intimidated the people of Hong Kong and Macau, leading to more individuals considering emigration out of fear of the Party’s tactics.
Lai Rongwei pointed out that Xi Jinping’s concerns extend beyond Hong Kong and Macau. Many people across China are internally resentful of his rule, but due to his control over the Party-state machinery, Xi is angering the international community in his expansion of the red influence of the Chinese Communist Party, which is a self-destructive behavior.