#Newspaper

In echo of Mao era, China's schools in book-cleansing drive

//As schools reopened in China after the COVID-19 outbreak, they have thrown themselves into a nationwide exercise to remove books deemed politically incorrect, deepening Chinese President Xi Jinping’s push to instil patriotism and ideological purity in the education system.

//A directive from the Ministry of Education last October called on elementary and middle schools to clear out books from their libraries including “illegal” and “inappropriate” works. Now teachers have removed books from schools in at least 30 of mainland China’s 33 provinces and municipalities, according to a Reuters review of social media posts, publicly available school and local government documents, and interviews with teachers.

//Censorship in China has been intensifying under Xi, but analysts say this is the first national campaign aimed at libraries in decades. It comes as government employees in Hong Kong last week removed books by pro-democracy activists from public libraries to see whether they violate a new national security law.

//The ministry directive did not list titles, but said illegal books are those “that damage the unity of the country, sovereignty or its territory; books that upset society’s order and damage societal stability; books that violate the Party’s guidelines and policies, smear or defame the Party, the country’s leaders and heroes.”

Full article: Reuters, (09-Jul)

#Censorship #BookCleansing #China #Xi #patriotism #Nationalism

#Newspaper

Luo Hui-ning, The Liaison Office of the Central People's Government (LOCPG): “Patriotism is not a choice.”

(30 Sep)Tomorrow [01 October] is the National Day of China and Mid-Autumn Festival. The National Day Celebration was held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre today (30 September) and was attended by multiple Chinese and Hong Kong dignitaries, including Vice-Chairman of The National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Tung Chee-hwa, Chief Executive Carrie Lam, Director of LOCPG Luo Hui-ning, Director of the National Security Agency (NSA) Cheng Yan-hung and others. Luo stated that Hong Kong people’s national identity must be strengthened and emphasized that there is only room for “Two Systems” if “One Country” is preserved.

Luo mentioned that the National Security Law put an end to “the turmoil of rampant independence in Hong Kong and black violence [referring to the ‘violence’ from black-clad demonstrators]”, and that national security education needs to be strengthened in the future, especially on civil servants and youngsters.

He also said that Chinese patriotism is not a choice, but an obligation and a righteousness, and called for a "firm defence" and "firm footing" on major issues of right and wrong so that Hong Kong could break through the vortex of over-politicization and free itself from violence and phoenixism [ie. mutual destruction].

Carrie Lam expressed her gratitude to the Central Government for their assistance in the fight against the epidemic. She also added that the Central Government’s support made the enactment of the National Security Law of Hong Kong which is crucial given the severe blow to the economy and society stemming from the Anti-ELAB movement and violence of last year.

Source: Cupid Producer, Associated Press

Translated by: Hong Kong Echo

#NationalSecurityLaw #HongKong #Patriotism in