Hong Kong's junior secondary Chinese history textbooks have been revised this year. The new editions markedly increase content on moral and ethical values, emphasizing obedience to the law, while also altering some historical terminology, including changing the description of the Qing dynasty 'ceding' Hong Kong to Britain's 'seizure' of the territory.
According to a report by Sing Tao Daily on the 8th, the newspaper recently obtained several samples of the new teacher’s edition textbooks. For example, in the Lingji Publishing's “Highlights of Chinese History Second Edition”, when describing the armed uprisings of the late Qing revolutionary parties, including the assassination of Qing officials, certain content is highlighted in red as “Teaching Reference Guidance”, instructing teachers to remind students that “killing or harming others is illegal behavior; in daily life, one should obey laws and rules.”
The textbook mentions martyrs such as Qiu Jin and Xu Xilin willingly going to their deaths, prompting students with the question: “For those without the courage or ability to be martyrs, how can they contribute to the nation?” The suggested reference answers indicate that students may answer freely, but also propose to remind students that “by studying hard and then participating in society, making contributions to society is also a way of contributing to the nation.”
In the section on the “May 4th Movement” and the “Burning of Zhao's Residence” incident, Lingji Publishing's “New Exploration of Chinese History” urges teachers to cultivate students’ understanding of rationality and lawfulness, stating, “No matter what happens, we cannot illegally injure others or damage people's property; there must be zero tolerance for violence.”
Regarding these additions, the report quotes an unnamed senior Chinese history teacher who says that the approach is “open to debate,” arguing that teachers and students should first understand the historical context of the time, rather than judging historical events through today's values. “If values are placed before history, it is easy for the content to become laughable or out of place, and may even undermine the credibility of the textbooks.”
Additionally, the report says that multiple new editions of Chinese history textbooks have revised the terminology regarding Hong Kong's history.
The report notes that in the 19th century, the Qing government signed the 'Treaty of Nanking' and other unequal treaties with Britain, ceding Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula, as well as leasing the New Territories to Britain. The new textbooks, including Yaji's “New Journey through Chinese History” and Lingji’s “Highlights of Chinese History”, now use terms such as 'seizure', 'forced lease', and 'occupation'.
The article quotes another unnamed senior Chinese history teacher as saying that these terms have indeed become part of the official mainstream narrative. “The current textbook revisions are intended to unify the concept of national sovereignty, ensure alignment of teaching content with the national Constitution and the Basic Law, and foster students' sense of belonging and patriotism.”