Last Saturday (December 4) was "National Constitution Day." On that day, the SAR government co-organized an online symposium with the Hong Kong Central Liaison Office and the Lijin Education Center.
In a speech at the meeting, Luo Huining, director of the Liaison Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, stated that “the education of the Constitution and the Basic Law must be strengthened in the whole society”. Publicity and education of the Constitution and the Basic Law for public officials and young people".
After several social incidents in recent years, all parties have generally agreed that Hong Kong has the need to actively promote the publicity and education of the Constitution. However, most of its focus is on young people or students. At the same time, the content also emphasizes the Constitution and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It is related to the Basic Law. However, the ideal Constitution education obviously cannot stop here, and should cover a more comprehensive scope.
Luo Huining stated that not recognizing the supremacy of the Constitution in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and disrespecting the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party is simply forgetting how the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region came to be. In fact, it negates the constitutional foundation of "one country, two systems."
Public officials must understand the Constitution
For example, those who are currently interested in joining the civil service team only need to simply pass the "Basic Law" test consisting of 15 multiple-choice questions. The Civil Service Bureau only stated in October this year that it will be updated into the "Basic Law and Hong Kong National Security Law" in the middle of next year. In the test, the content of the assessment still did not touch the national "Constitution."
However, according to common sense, they should be the members of the entire society who need the correct understanding of the Constitution. The relevant situation is really hard to say.
As the co-sponsor of Hong Kong Restart and the DAB Central Committee member Ye Wenbin said in a recent media interview, "A correct understanding of the country’s Constitution is a national responsibility, and even knowledge that must be learned. Now everyone agrees that there is a lack of adequate and formal education. We must make improvements, including government officials who should take the lead in learning, such as adding the entry assessment to the country’s "Constitution."
Future civil servants must be required to have knowledge of the Constitution, and regular assessments of active team members must also be made.
With the implementation of the "Hong Kong National Security Law" and the revision of the election system, the central government has put forward high demands on Hong Kong for good governance and good governance.
(Xinhua News Agency)
Themes other than the relationship between central and Hong Kong should also be touched
On the other hand, Hong Kong’s recent advocacy of "Constitution" education tends to emphasize its relationship with the "Basic Law". While pointing out that it is a "fundamental law", they also focus on explaining its role in the construction of "One Country, Two Systems". Therefore, the starting point is still It belongs to Hong Kong standard.
Such a treatment may dilute some of the content that should have been in the education of the Constitution, such as the commonality and uniqueness of the basic principles of the constitutions of various countries, and it is not conducive to the comprehensive understanding of the Constitution of the country by the Hong Kong society.
Turning to the second edition of the "Constitution" textbook of the nationally popular "Marxist Theoretical Research and Construction Project" series, "One Country, Two Systems" and the SAR system only account for one of the nine chapters, and absolutely cannot be regarded as the main content.
As for the "Guidelines for the Teaching of Constitution in General Higher Education Institutions" issued by the General Office of the Ministry of Education in October this year, it also pointed out that its teaching priorities should also include "basic theory", "national system", "fundamental rights", "basic obligations" and "basic duties". Six items: "National Institutions" and "Constitution Implementation".
The "Constitution" education undoubtedly needs to be further promoted in Hong Kong, but it is improperly implemented with any bias in terms of objects and content.
As early as February 2018, Xi Jinping said that it is necessary to "implement the various tasks of constitution study, publicity and education" and "to improve the system for national staff to study the constitution and laws."
Helplessly, some people in the government and society have not yet understood the importance of related work after experiencing large-scale social conflicts.
The Chief Executive and the Hong Kong Government must do a good job in the education of "one country, two systems". Senior civil servants and accountable bureau chiefs should both "live in the capable." Does Lam Cheng really understand Deng Xiaoping?