As the third anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-imposed Hong Kong National Security Law approaches, the authorities have been busy launching different measures and plans targeting students.

The Hong Kong government recently distributed 60,000 children’s picture books to primary schools all over Hong Kong.

The book, called National Security: Foundation Of Stability And Prosperity, which is produced in mainland China, talks about “people with bad intentions” may “release false information online” and tells the children “not to be influenced by friends or peers.”

Additionally, the book quoted a fabricated viewpoint from the Beijing government, claiming that the CCP supported Hong Kong during the financial crises from 1997 to 1998.

This is not the first time the authorities have used picture books to spread national security messages to the young.

The government also had 400 primary school students trained to be “little teachers of national security,” sharing national security stories using picture books at kindergartens throughout Hong Kong.

The 32-page colored picture book, National Security: Foundation of Stability and Prosperity, is written and edited by the University of International Relations, China. The academy belongs to the Ministry of Education of The Chinese Communist Party.

In early 2022, the Chinese and English versions of the book had already been published by Joint Publishing, owned by the Liaison Office in Hong Kong.

The book was distributed in Hong Kong on National Security Education Day on April 15, 2023.

According to the Central Academy of Fine Arts, the Beijing government commissioned the picture book.

The School of Experimental Art and the School of Science and Technology Art at the Central Academy of Fine Arts were responsible for the design and illustration.

In 2022, the School of Experimental Art and the School of Science and Technology Art of the Central Academy of Fine Arts organized special art teams to “conscientiously study the overall concept of China’s national security, and its related law and regulations; understand Hong Kong custom and culture to integrate symbols and elements of Hong Kong to accomplish the book design and illustration.

On July 2, 2022, the Hong Kong government updated the content online. It included the illustrated version of “Our Country Our Security” in its virtual exhibition to promote the second anniversary of Hong Kong National Security Law.

In the cybersecurity section in National Security: Foundation Of Stability And Prosperity, the book states, “Some people with bad intentions will use online media, culture, and art to spread fake information to mislead the public, fabricate facts, and incite hatred against the government.

On June 12, when state media Wen Wei Po reported the distribution of picture books, it quoted Hung Wai-shing, principal of Tin Shui Wai Ling Oi Primary School.

“The school will arrange for students to read and study the picture book. We will also try to integrate the picture book into daily teaching.” The principal said.

Hung believed in combining the picture book with the national security summer self-study program. The Education Bureau (EDB) launched it, which could help students better use their time in the summer holiday.

The new national security picture book briefly mentions the history of Hong Kong.

However, when it discusses the three years and eight months of Japan’s invading Hong Kong, it only details the “glory” of the CCP-led Hong Kong-Kowloon Independence Brigade under Dongjiang Column Command, dealing with the Japanese army.

There is no record of the rebellion activities or counterattacks by the British Service Corps contributed at the time, as well as the second takeover of Hong Kong by the United Kingdom on Sep. 1, 1945.

In fact, the Hong Kong-Kowloon Independent Brigade collaborated with the Allies and the British Service Corps.

The British Service Corps not only assisted in rescuing many Allied and international friends but also provided the Allied military and the Chinese Brigade details on Japanese movements in Hong Kong while simultaneously deploying counterattack operations against Japan.

The picture book again remarks on something artificial in recent years in the economic security section.
It says: The Central government supported Hong Kong during the financial crisis in 1997-98.

The book also claims that “the CCP supported Hong Kong in taking strong measures to stabilize its financial and economic turmoil by using a large sum of foreign exchange reserves.”

It is purely fictitious.

In 2017, while Former Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa gave a speech at an event, he mentioned he contacted Qian Qichen, the Foreign Minister of China, before tackling stock market speculators to ensure Beijing was good with Hong Kong’s plan. Tung also asked the Beijing government to provide several advisers to Hong Kong and help defuse the financial crisis.

However, Qian responded that It would not be a good idea as they were unfamiliar with Tung or Hong Kong and might give Tung the wrong advice.

According to Tung, Qian reminded him of “One Country. Two Systems” and that it would not be appropriate for the Beijing government to send people to Hong Kong to intervene.

“It’s One Country. Two Systems. Don’t you remember?” Tung recalled.

Oddly, in 2017, former Secretary for Finance Tsang Yam-kuen recalled the Hong Kong government did not inform Beijing until after it traded. The then-premier Zhu Rongji publicly expressed his full support to Hong Kong after the plan had gone ahead.

Tsang also said he was unaware of the conversation between Tung and Qian and said he and his department arranged the entire government’s anti-speculators strategy process.

Xing Mingjun, Secretary of the University of International Relations party committee, and Tao Juan, deputy secretary, are the advisers of National Security: Foundation of Stability and Prosperity.

Meanwhile, Bi Yanying, vice president of the University of International Relations party committee, is the book’s editor-in-chief.

Bi Yanying is an adviser, drafting expert, and one of the people who drafted the Hong Kong National Security Law.

By the end of 2022, after former Next Media Founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying hired British King’s Counsel Tim Owen to represent him in his national security trial, the controversy stirred when Bi Yanying claimed that The National Security Commission is subject to supervision and accountability by the Beijing. And if there is any conflict in understanding the legal basis for exercising its powers, the CCP legislative body should be requested for interpretation.

Bi also stressed that the Hong Kong National Security Committee has a uniquely superior position to lead and oversee all measures safeguarding national security law matters in Hong Kong. That means The CCP can override any decisions made in Hong Kong.

Beijing will inform its decision through the National Security Affairs Consultant, who will guide and advise, and Hong Kong National Security Commission must implement it.

Bi Yanying has also regularly trained Hong Kong government officials on Hong Kong’s National Security Law.

In November 2021 and 2022, The Department of Justice invited Tsinghua University to run an online course on the basic principles of mainland Chinese Law. Bi Yanying was one of the lecturers.

Department of Justice, Government lawyers from various departments, and private lawyers participated.

In addition, the Hong Kong government held its first National Security seminar for the Civil Service Bureau in November 2022. About 100 executive-level civil servants, such as permanent secretaries, chief executive office directors, and civil service directors, attended the course.

National Security: Foundation of Stability and Prosperity is not the first children’s book the government used to send national security messages.

Other than Our Country Our Security, Wonders of the Stars is a picture book for the CCP to boast its achievements in outer space security and spread the importance of national security education. The book is available in Chinese, English, and several languages of ethnic minorities in Hong Kong.

A year after enforcing the National Security Law, The Education Bureau launched an audio picture book, “Let’s Learn about National Security,” targeting primary school students.

In April 2023, pro-CCP organizations, Love U All Charitable Foundation, Wong Tai Sin Primary School Heads Association, and the Hong Kong China Culture, Sports and Tourism Association organized a program for “little national security teachers.”

Local school teachers had to teach three national security picture books to almost 400 primary school students and drill them to become “national security little teachers.”

The 400 students then followed the “National Security On Campus” rundown to visit kindergartens and share stories about national security.

On June 8, the Education Bureau reached out to principals from primary, secondary, and special needs schools and institutions in Hong Kong, announcing that June 30 is an important date: the 3rd anniversary of the National Security Law implementation.

The Education Bureau said they had prepared various activities and teaching aids, including National Security Summer Self-learning Materials. It urged the schools to organize activities accordingly closer to the date.

The department explained that the self-learning materials are produced to extend students’ learning in the classroom and encourage them to use the time well during the holiday.

The teacher’s version of the materials, including references, is divided into nine weeks.

Each week provides seven questions for students’ self-learning. Students will answer one question each day. Their answers are automatically checked, and the form will give instant feedback.

The bureau especially reminded that teachers should follow up on the progress of students’ self-study.

Meanwhile, the Education Bureau organized an online national security learning platform and a competition. It instructed all schools to encourage students to log on to the learning platform online and participate in various games to get points and win for their schools.

In addition, teachers must read through the given bullet points of the National Security Law explanation, which can be applied to morning assembly, class teacher’s lessons, and auditorium lectures.

The EDB requires all schools to point out that Hong Kong National Security Law has successfully curbed threats and behaviors which endanger national security.

The schools must also speak out loud, “Since implementing the National Security Law, Hong Kong has embarked on a new journey of the rule of law and prosperity; Hong Kong’s future will be greater than ever.”