PRO-BEIJING YOUTH EVENT SPURS WORRIES
Schoolchildren were invited to handle grenade launchers and sing the Chinese national anthem during a day of activities in Hong Kong Thursday designed to increase loyalty to Beijing.
In classrooms across the city, students as young as six were given lessons on the draconian security law imposed last year as part of the first “National Security Education Day.” Pupils were told to write messages in praise of China on billboards as they took part in flag-raising ceremonies and tackled pro-Beijing puzzles and games.
At an open day at the Police College, police demonstrated a new goose-stepping march that mimics the style used by mainland troops.
Students were a key part of Hong Kong's fading protest movement and authorities have sought overhauls of the curriculum as they seek to instil broad fealty to the Communist Party.
An older student, who refused to give her full identity, told The Daily Telegraph: “No matter how many activities the government plan to do, it won't change people's minds that (it) is not trustworthy. But I'm worried about the junior students who may be brainwashed by these events.”