Recently, a new edition of the textbook on civics and social development claimed that Hong Kong was not a British "colonial", causing controversy. The Education Bureau published an article today to explain its position.
The bureau pointed out that after the Opium War in the 19th century, the United Kingdom forced the Qing government to sign three unequal treaties. According to international law, because they were coercion by force, they had no legal effect. The United Nations also removed Hong Kong and Macau from the list of colonies in the 1970s.
The Education Bureau emphasized that it is not denying that Hong Kong was occupied by the British, but that it was under "colonial administration" and had no sovereignty. It is not appropriate to describe Hong Kong's status as a "colonial".
The Education Bureau published an article today stating that Hong Kong is not a British "colonial".
(file picture)
The Education Bureau today published an article titled "Controversy over whether Hong Kong is a "colonial" from a historical and jurisprudential perspective. The article mentioned that the Legislative Council Panel on Education recently discussed the Civil and Social Development Division, during which some comments reiterated that Hong Kong is not a "colonial" "colony".
The article pointed out that from historical documents and unearthed cultural relics, it is an indisputable fact that Hong Kong has been China's territory since ancient times.
The origin of the dispute stemmed from the British government, after the Opium War in the 19th century, three times forcing the Qing government to sign the Treaty of Nanjing (1842), the Treaty of Peking (1860) and the Special Article on the Extension of the Hong Kong Boundary ( 1898) three unequal treaties, which resulted in a history of more than 150 years in Hong Kong being forcibly occupied, leased, and “colonized” by the United Kingdom. The colonial administration of Hong Kong is a legitimate act."
The bureau went on to say that the vast majority of Hong Kong students living in Hong Kong are Chinese citizens living in Hong Kong, and they are also a member of the world citizens. Foreigners do not interpret the historical view of the Opium War to the occupation of Hong Kong based on historical facts.” The Education Bureau pointed out that the above-mentioned three treaties related to the status of Hong Kong, according to international law, were signed by the United Kingdom using force to coerce the Qing government, “therefore, they have no legal effect. The successive Chinese governments since the 1911 Revolution of 1911 have never formally recognized these three unequal treaties.”
The final exhibition area of the 2020 Hong Kong Museum of History's "Hong Kong Story" permanent exhibition is "Modern City and the Return of Hong Kong", which refers to the situation from colonial rule to the return to China.
The permanent exhibition is currently being updated.
(file picture)
The Education Bureau also stressed that since the 1970s, several United Nations resolutions and announcements have clearly demonstrated the fact that Hong Kong is not a so-called "colonial". In November 1972, the 27th United Nations General Assembly voted 99 in favor and 5 against. Pass a resolution to remove Hong Kong and Macau from the list of colonies and confirm China's position and demands on the Hong Kong and Macau issues.
The bureau reiterated that saying Hong Kong is not a British "colonial" does not deny Hong Kong's history of being occupied by the United Kingdom, "it just emphasizes that it is not appropriate to use the word 'colonial' to describe Hong Kong's status. We must let students correctly understand that China has always had The fact of Hong Kong sovereignty.”
The Education Bureau article stated that since 1842, the United Kingdom has implemented "colonial governance" in Hong Kong and has no sovereignty over Hong Kong. "Because of this, the United Kingdom has no right to allow Hong Kong to be autonomous or independent." In 1984, China and Britain The government signed the Sino-British Joint Declaration, confirming that the government of the People's Republic of China resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong on July 1, 1997.
The Basic Law more clearly states that Hong Kong has been China's territory since ancient times, and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China.
The Education Bureau published an article on its website today.
The Education Bureau also emphasized that by July 1, 1997, China officially "resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong", not "recovering Hong Kong's sovereignty"; It can be seen from this that although the British occupied and forcibly leased the Hong Kong area for more than 150 years and implemented colonial administration here, the fact that sovereignty over Hong Kong has always belonged to the country has not brought any changes.” The
Education Bureau In conclusion, teaching students to correctly understand the historical facts about Hong Kong from an early age is a long way to go and must be undertaken by all sectors of Hong Kong. fact.
"Hong Kong was never a British colony" sparked controversy Leung Mei-fan advocated the formation of a cyber army to distribute correct information Hong Kong was never a colony?
The Legislative Council website deletes the introduction of "Before 1997 as a colony" to overthrow history or set things right?
Historians reveal the logic behind "Hong Kong is not a colony" Zheng Ruohua: 23 articles to maintain national security may not be enough to activate "sedition" and other colonial crimes