HONG KONG - Safeguarding national security is the responsibility of all nationals and there is no room for debate or compromise, the Education Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said Monday.

It is legitimate for the HKSAR government to promote national security education, the bureau said in an article published to correct misunderstanding on national security education, stressing that schools also bear the duty in the aspect and should cultivate students' sense of responsibility to safeguard national security.

Hong Kong students have the civic duty to uphold national security and the rule of law for the continued prosperity, safety and stability of Hong Kong, the bureau said.

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Fostering students' sense of national identity has long been an important learning goal of both primary and secondary education and elements related to national security education are integral to the school curriculum, the bureau said.

It is legitimate for the HKSAR government to promote national security education, the Education Bureau said

Hong Kong's school curriculum has been providing opportunities for students to understand the history, culture and development of the country, as well as the Constitution and the HKSAR Basic Law in a progressive manner from a young age, the bureau said.

National security education covers elements including sovereignty, territorial security, cyberspace security and could be found in subjects such as Chinese history, geography and information technology, the bureau said.

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