People wave both the Chinese national and Hong Kong SAR's regional flags during a flag-raising ceremony held at Hon Wah College, in Siu Sai Wan, to celebrate the 26th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, on July 1, 2023. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

Hong Kong will introduce a slew of initiatives to boost the city’s patriotic education and its appreciation of Chinese culture, including setting up a museum, strengthening teaching Chinese culture and history in primary education, establishing a Chinese Culture Promotion Office and organizing a Chinese Culture Festival starting from 2024, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu revealed on Wednesday in his second Policy Address.

Hong Kong will also take measures to promote the establishment of an East-meets-West center for international cultural exchange, including the release of a Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development this year and the establishment of the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency.

On Tuesday, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the nation's top legislature, passed the Patriotic Education Law that aims to enhance patriotic education nationwide. The law requires the Hong Kong SAR to take concrete moves to meet the goal.

The the Constitution and Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee, led by Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki,will establish a Working Group on Patriotic Education to coordinate the work of government departments and non-governmental bodies in pushing forward national education and dovetailing with the recently-adopted Patriotic Education Law

Pledging more polices to enhance people's understanding of the nation and Chinese culture, Lee said the SAR government endeavors to build mainstream values characterized by patriotism with affection for the nation and Hong Kong and in line with the principle of "one country, two systems".

To this end, Lee revealed that the Constitution and Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee, led by Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki, will extend its scope to cover patriotic education. The committee will also establish a Working Group on Patriotic Education to coordinate the work of government departments and non-governmental bodies in pushing forward national education and dovetailing with the recently-adopted Patriotic Education Law.

A new museum will be built to showcase the latest developments and achievements of the nation, spanning history, culture, and social development.

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The government is still looking for a site to build the museum, a source from the government said. Before the museum is completed, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will use existing public museums to organize exhibitions on similar topics.

Every year, the government will organize exhibitions with different themes to introduce the nation's development, the source said.

At the same time, the government is going to incorporate the history of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression to the existing Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence, making the museum Hong Kong's first museum dedicated to commemorating the war.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu delivers his 2023 Policy Address at the Legislative Council building in Hong Kong, Oct 25, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

The museum will also have a new name – the Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence, and all the relevant preparations will be completed by the first half of 2024, the source added.

The government will also further integrate patriotic education into the city's schools and universities. Lee revealed that the Education Bureau (EDB) will publish a Humanities Curriculum Framework for primary schools. The new subject, which will include elements of Chinese culture, history and geography, aims to strengthen students' affirmation of the country at an early stage.

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The government is going to incorporate the history of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression to the existing Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence, making the museum Hong Kong's first museum dedicated to commemorating the war

The EDB will set up a committee including officials, school representatives and scholars to work out the curriculum framework, a source from EDB said, adding that the bureau hopes to carry out the framework by the end of the current school year.

Lee also noted that LSCD will establish a Chinese Culture Promotion Office with the tasks of planning and implementing programs, exchanges, and collaboration on promoting Chinese culture and history.

The new office will also be in charge of organizing the Chinese Culture Festival, which will be held regularly from 2024.

The regularized event will integrate several existing Chinese culture programs, such as the China Opera Festival, as well as bringing in more outstanding performances, arts projects, and film screenings for the Hong Kong audience.

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The first new-born Chinese Culture Festival is expected to be staged in mid-2024, a source from LCSD said.