Hong Kong: Children To Be Taught About National Security Law

Children as young as six are to learn about crimes under Hong Kong’s national security law.

Schools will be asked to monitor children’s behavior and report any support for the pro-democracy movement, as part of new education rules.

The national security law was imposed last June with Beijing arguing it was needed to tackle unrest linked to pro-democracy protests in the city.

Thousands of children became involved in the protests.

Hong Kong’s education bureau released the guidelines along with an animated video that explains to students what the national security law is.

The law criminalizes secession, subversion and collusion with foreign forces with the maximum sentence life in prison.

The video, featuring an owl and two students, explains that the national security law has been enacted “for the sake of Hong Kong’s continuous development and long-term prosperity”.

“We all know Hong Kong is an inalienable part of our country,” it tells students.

Primary school students will also be taught how to sing and respect the national anthem and learn about how the People’s Liberation Army protects Hong Kong. Older students will learn about the limits of Hong Kong’s rights and freedoms.