The three-pronged anti-corruption strategy of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), introduced in 1974, which formed the backbone of its success and is now universally recognized as the most effective anti-corruption strategy in the world, should be applied in the implementation of the National Security Law (NSL).
The strategy consists of effective enforcement, system prevention and public education. The first two have been implemented most effectively so far. The National Security Department (NSD) of the Hong Kong Police Force has made a strong impact on enforcement with the arrest of a number of leading opposition figures for their involvement in an illegal public protest march while other subversive elements either were also arrested or have absconded overseas to escape punishment. In the process, it has created strong deterrence against foreign subversive interference in Hong Kong. The system prevention has also seen significant progress, with the requirement for all civil servants and District Councilors to swear allegiance to the SAR government and Basic Law, the creation of a high-powered vetting system to assess candidates for elections and the introduction of electoral reforms to ensure only patriots may participate in governing Hong Kong.
The remaining key area that needs to be addressed is public education. It is also the most challenging as we have seen the consequence of its failure in the rampant destruction of public property and street violence against innocent citizens who do not share the radicals’ political agenda. The reason for this anarchy is easily traceable to our education system’s massive failure to impart appropriate education on patriotism and national security. This educational shortcoming was ruthlessly exploited by both local and external anti-China elements who proceeded to brainwash our youngsters with fake news and blatant lies on social media besmirching both the Central and Hong Kong SAR governments. It is precisely to reverse this brainwashing of our younger generation that Article 10 of the NSL requires the HKSAR government to promote national security education in schools and universities and through social organizations, the media, the internet and other means and to remind all citizens of their obligation to love their country. This Article also spells out what public education should consist of.
On face-to-face public education, it should involve schools and the community at large. As the ICAC has been doing, the school education should start from kindergarten and up to university level. A special school education unit should be set up for this particular purpose to design the curriculum for different levels. A website should be launched to provide teaching materials for teachers’ reference
As early as 2015, the National People’s Congress promulgated April 15 as National Security Education Day, though we have heretofore failed to educate our citizenry on the importance of national security and patriotism.
In mapping out an effective public education program, I propose it should follow the ICAC’s proven strategy in broadly dividing it into two areas — media and face-to-face education.
Media is undoubtedly the most effective means to educate the public and raise their awareness of national security as it is easily accessible. Indeed, the government has already started broadcasting Announcements of Public Interest (APIs) on this subject over various TV channels. But more innovative APIs should be produced for broadcast at prime time. Simultaneously, greater effort should be made to promote the NSD’s reporting hotline (SMS 62717171; WeChat NSD62717171 and email nsd-public@police.gov.hk) and encourage the public to promptly report any suspicion of breach of national security. More press conferences and media interviews should be conducted to highlight the successes in enforcement, which in itself would create a strong deterrent effect. Like the ICAC, the NSD can successfully partner with local TV stations to produce drama series to arouse public interest. Indeed, there is a popular mainland TV drama series “Storm Eye” with 40 episodes on how the National Security Bureau (NSB) succeeded in neutralizing an international commercial espionage syndicate. The TV drama successfully highlighted the professionalism and dedication of the NSB officers. Hong Kong certainly has the expertise and resources to match this success. And we should learn from our publicity failure at the peak of the violent social unrest in 2019 and the defeat of the Extradition Bill simply because the opposition managed to marshal more firepower in flooding the social media with falsehoods. Indeed, they are now re-employing the same strategy in discouraging the public from taking anti-COVID vaccinations!
On face-to-face public education, it should involve schools and the community at large. As the ICAC has been doing, the school education should start from kindergarten and up to university level. A special school education unit should be set up for this particular purpose to design the curriculum for different levels. A website should be launched to provide teaching materials for teachers’ reference.
On community education, the District Offices (DOs) should play a key role. A special unit should be set up in every DO to liaise with the community organizations to give talks, organize seminars, exhibitions and other promotional activities.
To strengthen civil servants’ awareness of national security, the new Civil Service College should initiate a comprehensive program for all civil servants to attend classes on national security. All new recruits should be required to attend a compulsory introductory course on national security as part of their induction training and must pass the standard test before they can commence their service.
However, we would all appreciate that there are at least two major obstacles in the successful implementation of national security education. They are the teachers themselves and the media, both having been largely hijacked by the opposition force in recent years to become a power base in their anti-government campaign and an instrument for brainwashing youngsters. The NSD should monitor the Hong Kong Professional Teachers Union (HKPTU) closely and not hesitate to take legal action against it for any perceived breach of the NSL. A recent news report on HKPTU displaying many anti-China publications in their bookshops should be investigated. If verified and appropriate penalty is imposed, it could defang the HKPTU as a major anti-government hotbed.
Another complicating factor in school education is that the university education has clearly failed to instill a proper sense of patriotism in their training of future teachers. On the contrary, many trainee teachers were seen to develop anti-China tendencies in their outlook which they soon pass on to their students. A comprehensive review should be conducted on their curriculum as well as the qualification and background of their teaching staff. As for the current teachers, there is no reason why they, as well as all university faculty members, should not be required to swear allegiance to the SAR government and Basic Law, just like all civil servants. There are undoubtedly many black sheep among the current teaching staff and the best way to identify and get rid of them is to make the best use of the public reporting hotlines and subsequent investigations, as well as a stricter disciplinary procedure with zero tolerance. This is not interference in academic freedom but it’s a necessary step to prevent our younger generation from being led astray.
As for the media, I propose the current Broadcasting Authority, which is the only authority that can discipline media organizations for impropriety, should be renamed Media Authority to cover all media, including the power to sanction print media and social media. This is reasonable as TV stations and newspapers should be required to abide by the same rules of truthful reporting and avoid inappropriate incitement.
To ensure proper and consistent implementation, a high-level national security education steering committee chaired by the Chief Secretary, with representatives from all stakeholders, should be set up. The annual National Security Education Day on April 15 should be an appropriate focal point when a comprehensive strategy and action plan for national security education should be promulgated. The action plan should be subject to review every year to maintain the momentum.
The author is an adjunct professor of HKU Space and Council member of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies. He is also a former deputy commissioner of the ICAC.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
