Cui Jianchun, commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, on Tuesday encouraged primary and secondary school headmasters in Hong Kong to cultivate a deeper understanding of the nation and the “one country, two systems” principle, to enable them to better educate their students.
Cui addressed 90 newly appointed Hong Kong headmasters during their meeting at the commissioner’s office in Central.
The event also included lectures and exhibitions designed to enhance the headmasters’ comprehension of national security and diplomacy.
In an opening speech, Cui, who has been in his Hong Kong post for around two months, expressed admiration for the region’s educational excellence, noting its high global standing.
“Comprehending Hong Kong is akin to reading a book, one that requires time and experience to grasp,” he said.
Addressing the event, Hong Kong’s Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin said that principals play a crucial role as the navigators of education. They are responsible for managing their schools and implementing educational goals, but also need to possess a comprehensive understanding of the global political, economic, social, cultural and military landscape, she said.
It is crucial that school principals are well-versed in China’s modernization efforts, as the knowledge is essential for guiding their institutions with confidence in the nation’s progress, she said.
During the event, Zhou Qian, director-general of the department of treaty and law of the commissioner’s office, gave a lecture comparing national security laws in different countries.
Zhou said that Hong Kong’s security statutes, including the National Security Law for Hong Kong and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, are in line with international practices and uphold high human rights standards.
Despite being newer than related Western laws, Hong Kong’s legislation has been effective in upholding stability, safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty and development interests, Zhou added.
Lam Ming-yan, principal of Po Leung Kuk Ho Yuk Ching College — a secondary school located in Tseung Kwan O — said she was pleased to have attended the event.
The country’s diplomatic wisdom in leadership is of considerable importance to headmasters who are responsible for administering school staff and students, Lam said.
Lam added that her school, along with seven other schools in the Tseung Kwan O area, co-organized a series of national education activities last year.
These activities promoted knowledge and understanding of the national security laws among students, parents, and local residents, Lam said.
Wan Shuk-fan, from the Church of Christ in China Hoh Fuk Tong Primary School in Tuen Mun, said that the event provided an invaluable opportunity for headmasters to refine their leadership and strategic skills.
Wan vowed to disseminate the knowledge acquired to teachers and students, helping them to foster a deeper understanding of global affairs, diplomacy, and the commissioner’s role within the city.
Chen Xiyun contributed to this story.
stephyzhang@chinadailyhk.com
