This undated photo shows a general view of the University of Hong Kong. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVT)

The leaders of nine Hong Kong universities on Tuesday put forward various proposals for strengthening the city’s national education, including providing more themed activities for students, integrating national education into the curriculum, and enhancing teachers’ training.

These discussions took place at a local forum held by the Tin Ka Ping Foundation to celebrate its 40th anniversary.

Stephen Cheung Yan-leung, president of the Education University of Hong Kong, said that students’ national education should start at an early age

Stephen Cheung Yan-leung, president of the Education University of Hong Kong, said that students’ national education should start at an early age. He proposed that primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong better integrate national education into daily courses, such as the teaching of Chinese, English and technologies, to raise students’ interest in national affairs.

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Leonard Cheng Kwok-hon, president of the Lingnan University of Hong Kong, suggested that universities offer more courses on comparing the political and economic systems of different countries, to enable them to better understand the developments and advantages of China’s model.

President of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Teng Jin-guang, said that PolyU will organize more activities to enhance students’ sense of national identity, including inviting Chinese mainland figures to the campus to give lectures, and sending students to the mainland to serve as volunteers or to join exchange activities.

Paul Lam Kwan-sing, president of Hong Kong Metropolitan University, stressed the significance of improving national education training of teachers, for them to have a better influence on students.

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The Tin Ka Ping Foundation is a charitable organization founded in Hong Kong in 1982 by the late Hong Kong businessman and philanthropist Tin Ka-ping, to support the education sector and other charitable endeavors in China.