Talking about history doesn’t always mean a dull conversation, especially within the context construed by China’s booming cultural and creative industry. When falling into the right box, let’s say, an illuminating one, history can awaken young minds and cultivate their patriotic spirit. And it can give a hint of Hong Kong’s future education on national studies.

With the recent celebrations across the country on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, the entertainment industry responded with big-budget productions that present the history of the CPC’s founding and the milestones it has set. Among them is a TV drama that stirred rounds of enthusiastic discussion among young people in China — The Age of Awakening. The drama narrates the story of how the CPC was founded in 1921, shines a light on the revolutionary era where those young people with the brightest minds and the most sincere faith in communism, devote their lives to serve the country. The viewership data showed that most of the audience were aged 30 or younger; this is unusual for typical Chinese period dramas.

In eliminating Hong Kong youth’s misunderstanding of the CPC and the country’s political system as well as enhancing their appreciation of the central government’s consistent intention and determination to build a better Hong Kong, there is still so much to be done

One of the extraordinary elements that attracted the young audience is the portrayal of the communist heroes and martyrs’ devotion to the country. More than merely being hot-blooded, characters in the drama like Cai Yuanpei, a former principal of Peking University, vividly manifest what real patriotic young men should look like, and how collective and intellectual devotion have led China to the road of revival and prosperity. Historical events like the May Fourth Movement and the New Culture Movement were intrinsically related to the nation’s youth, and TV dramas of these stories are the best educational tool for Chinese students.

In light of this “awakening” entertainment phenomenon, what the national education curriculum in Hong Kong should consider is the depth, the level of arousal, and most importantly, the effectiveness in helping local teenagers to understand the country and the strengths of the ruling CPC.

Celebrations have been taking place around the country this month, focusing on the CPC’s great achievements over the past 100 years. The most widely noted achievement is the eradication of extreme poverty in the country. The Party has made the impossible possible with the relentless efforts of generations of leaders and ordinary party members. China has survived the COVID-19 pandemic with flying colors, another proof of the advantage and strength of the CPC-led political system, contrary to what critics have claimed. 

Given the different situation in Hong Kong — particularly the hangover from British colonial rule — it goes without saying that national education for local youth needs to be carried out in a more sophisticated way, which should include acquainting students with modern Chinese history through multiple channels. The promotion of patriotic movies and TV series such The Age of Awakening among the youth could be a good beginning.

It is important to ensure that students receive comprehensive knowledge on Chinese culture, modern history and the role of the CPC in building the New China and facilitating national rejuvenation. Only by enhancing national identity among the youth by acquainting them with Chinese history and helping them to realize that Hong Kong has a shared destiny with the Chinese mainland can they get rid of the colonial hangover and embrace the country wholeheartedly.

National identity and patriotism contain a wide definition of beliefs and behaviors. When it comes to cultivating such concepts in the minds of Hong Kong’s young people who have been affected in one way or the other by a colonial hangover, it is imperative to enhance mutual understanding through a down-to-earth approach; for instance, by emphasizing the contrast of China’s national power before and after the CPC’s administration of the country, or help the youth feel connected with the revolutionary figures in the past through movies or TV series depicting modern history. 

In eliminating Hong Kong youth’s misunderstanding of the CPC and the country’s political system as well as enhancing their appreciation of the central government’s consistent intention and determination to build a better Hong Kong, there is still so much to be done. It is a mega project of constructing a “bridge”, one that could be named “awakening”.

The author is the youth committee executive deputy director at the Hong Kong Federation of Fujian Associations. 

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.