EDB provides latest guidelines on display of national flag

The Education Bureau on Monday (Oct. 11) issued a circular providing the latest guidelines on the display of the national flag and national emblem in primary and secondary schools.

In a statement issued on Monday afternoon, the EDB said the circular, which also covers the conduct of national flag-raising ceremonies in schools, was issued after the National Flag and National Emblem (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 took effect on Friday.

An EDB spokesman said the national flag, emblem and anthem are symbols representing the country, and should be respected by all citizens.

He added that cultivating students' sense of national identity is one of the key learning goals of primary and secondary education and also the educational obligation of schools.

Starting Jan 1, 2022, all primary and secondary schools (including special schools) must display the national flag on each school day, as well as New Year's Day (January 1), the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day (July 1) and National Day (October 1).

"Schools should display the regional flag alongside the national flag if there are adequate flagpoles. Schools are also required to conduct a national flag-raising ceremony weekly and on the above days or the preceding/following school day," the spokesman was quoted as saying in the statement.

"The national anthem should be played and sung in a national flag-raising ceremony. Schools are strongly advised to conduct a national flag-raising ceremony on important days and special occasions," he added.

The spokesman also said that, as far as conditions permit, kindergartens should follow the requirements for primary and secondary schools on displaying the national flag and regional flag, and conducting a national flag-raising ceremony "so that students can learn about the national flag and national anthem of their own country from an early age."

"International schools and other private primary, secondary schools and kindergartens offering solely non-local curricula are also encouraged to refer to the requirements for primary and secondary schools, and arrange for displaying the national flag and conducting a national flag-raising ceremony based on the actual school circumstances, in order to enable students of different ethnicities or nationalities to learn about the culture and history of the country where they live," he said.

As for post-secondary education institutions, the ordinance stipulates that must refer to the directions given by the Secretary of Education to primary and secondary schools. The EDB said it issued a letter today to relevant institutions to remind them of their responsibilities under the ordinance.

(Source: China Daily)