Do not ignore negative side of nation’s past
I am glad that the Hong Kong government has launched a second round of consultation into the decision to make Chinese history a compulsory subject at the junior secondary level.
Even though it is 20 years since the sovereignty of Hong Kong was returned to China, many Hongkongers still struggle with their national identity, and tensions remain between some groups and the central government.
Hong Kong continues to enjoy a high degree of autonomy and freedom, but it is still important for citizens to know about the nation’s history and how it relates to Hong Kong’s past. Young people need to know the struggles and hardships of previous generations so they do not take what they have for granted.
However, we must not fall into the trap you find in some countries which only focus on past achievements, rather than failures, in their national history syllabuses in schools. Sensitive and negative aspects of history must also be studied. Pupils need to know the full story and learn to think for themselves and reach their own conclusions.
This is the best way to help them develop their critical thinking skills. This compulsory Chinese history course must be taught in an objective way.
Cynthia Tam, Kwun Tong