'National Security Education Day raises awareness'

A lawmaker and a senior counsel on Wednesday said the National Security Education Day would help promote public awareness and understanding on safeguarding national security. Speaking on RTHK's Backchat programme, lawmaker Priscilla Leung said the National Security Education Day helps people to learn and understand the implementation of National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. "National security education now is very important for ordinary people, as well as for the youth, to truly appreciate the implementation of the national security law as well as the national security ordinance in Hong Kong," she said, adding it also acts as a protective layer for people's lives and the nation. She pointed out that national security education is not only "a classroom exercise" for students and they should have a patriotic attitude towards the motherland. She believed that national security education had been "going on the right way", noting that there were more education styles such as drama, music, and holding parades that allowed young people to participate and feel the significance and importance of national security "in a soft way". Grenville Cross, former director of public prosecutions and Senior Counsel, also spoke on the same programme. He said that the National Security Education Day would promote public awareness on safeguarding national security. He pointed out that public acceptance of national security legislation is important, saying that "this is obviously where national security education has a vital role to play." "Indeed, this was recognised at the outset by the National Security Law for Hong Kong back in 2020, which requires Hong Kong to strengthen public communication and guidance over matters concerning national security, including in the schools, in the universities, and so on," he said. He also reminded the public that ordinary citizens and young people had a crucial role in safeguarding national security as part of their civic duty. Edited by Tony Sabine