The unveiling ceremony of the “PolyU Patriotic Education Base (Hong Kong)” was officiated by Ms Alice Mak Mei-kuen (4th from left); Mr Huang Jingrui (4th from right); Mr Cao Qifeng (3rd from right); Dr Lam Tai-fai (3rd from left); Prof. Jin-Guang Teng (2nd from left); Prof. Zhang Liqun (2nd from right); Prof. Liu Wenfeng (1st from right); and Prof. Wing-tak Wong, Deputy President and Provost of PolyU (1st from left).

A strong sense of national pride is a core value that PolyU is committed to instilling in its students. In support of the Nation’s implementation of patriotic education, PolyU and Xi’an Jiaotong University (XJTU) recently unveiled the “PolyU Patriotic Education Base (Hong Kong)”, making PolyU the first university in Hong Kong to establish demonstration bases for patriotic education in both Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland.

Serving as the main base, the Hong Kong Base will work closely with the “PolyU Patriotic Education Base (Xi’an)” established last year, aiming to develop a replicable model for patriotic education and nurture talent devoted to Hong Kong and the Nation. Leveraging the strengths and networks of PolyU and XJTU, these bases will advance patriotic education in Hong Kong and foster integration into national development.

The unveiling ceremony was held on the PolyU campus, witnessed by Ms Alice Mak Mei-kuen, Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People’s Republic of China; Mr Huang Jingrui, Spokesperson and Director-General of the Department of Media and Public Relations of the Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR; and Mr Cao Qifeng, Director of the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR. The ceremony was jointly officiated by Dr Lam Tai-fai, Council Chairman of PolyU, and Professor Jin-Guang Teng, President of PolyU, together with Professor Zhang Liqun, President of XJTU, and Professor Liu Wenfeng, Director of the Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs of XJTU.

Dr Lam remarked that the PolyU Council and management are united in promoting patriotic education in action. “PolyU is fully committed to supporting the Nation in advancing towards its second centennial goal, contributing to the Nation’s development into a powerhouse in education, talent cultivation and technology, and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation.”

Professor Zhang stated, “This is an important step for both universities in implementing the Patriotic Education Law of the People’s Republic of China and integrating patriotic education into the talent cultivation system.” He added that joint teaching programmes will enhance students’ confidence, understanding, and sense of belonging to the Nation, nurturing a new generation of builders and successors.

PolyU plans to organise its first student delegation visit to the Xi’an Base this May, including visits to historical and cultural sites in Xi’an, local technology enterprise tours, thematic lectures, inter-university student forums, and service-learning activities. Looking ahead, PolyU aims to collaborate with more Mainland universities, government institutions, and cultural organisations to develop the Hong Kong Base into a key hub for patriotic education in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and across the country.

PolyU has long been committed to nurturing socially responsible professionals and leaders with a strong sense of national pride and a global perspective. The University was the first in Hong Kong to make “Chinese History and Culture” a compulsory subject for all undergraduates and to establish a student flag-raising team. PolyU has also set up the Research Centre for Chinese History and Culture and organises activities such as the PolyU Chinese Culture Festival to promote Chinese culture.

The Hong Kong Base will strengthen collaboration between the PolyU Faculty of Humanities, the Research Centre for Chinese History and Culture, the Confucius Institute of Hong Kong, and XJTU, further enriching the University’s General University Requirements in Chinese history and culture. Through systematic and diversified educational activities, the Base will deepen young people’s understanding of the Nation’s history, culture and achievements.

After the unveiling ceremony, the officiating guests visited the Confucius Institute of Hong Kong.