bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

SCMP Reporter

Officials hope to create patriotic, law-abiding citizens with propaganda campaigns

Guangdong authorities will launch a three-year campaign to instil patriotism in residents and encourage them to be more law-abiding, trustworthy and courteous, official media reported yesterday.

The aim was to make Guangdong residents 'patriotic, law-abiding, honest, and courteous modern citizens', the  Nanfang Daily reported, citing a circular.

Guangdong's decision follows reports that the central government is considering a national drive to underscore traditional Chinese culture and values to halt rapid social degeneration.

The report said Guangdong authorities would attempt to instil patriotism by educating the public about Chinese traditions and socialism. It said campaigns would also be created  to improve the public's knowledge of laws, while the authorities would offer legal services.

Authorities would also launch drives to encourage reading and promote better social behaviour.

A prominent local businessman and former teacher said the programme was much needed and long overdue.

'The young do not receive the traditional education that their elders did, which emphasised how to be a  [good citizen]. People have become too individualistic because life has gotten better,' he said.

'What the government wants is for us to go back to the basics. It realises that for a society to be sustainable, we need this kind of education.'

He added that under China's bureaucratic system, regular campaigns were needed to give officials work to do.

However, the latest campaigns were unlikely to resolve the social problems on their own, he said.

'It still boils down to family upbringing. As the Chinese saying goes, a dragon begets a dragon and a phoenix begets a phoenix while the offspring of a rat will only know how to dig a hole,' he said.

The campaign would address  problems that had emerged at a crucial stage of Guangdong's process of embracing economic development and reforms, the newspaper said in an analysis piece.

The deepening of reforms and greater opening up of the mainland had led to social and economic diversity. This in turn had resulted in a confused understanding of moral standards and values, the newspaper said.

To build a more courteous society, people would be encouraged to read and volunteer their services, while charity groups would be formed to help alleviate poverty.

To promote patriotism, there would be commemorations of special events, including the 60th anniversary of China's victory in the Sino-Japanese war and the 100th  anniversary of the birth of composer Xian Xinghai .

To raise awareness of the law, seminars, fairs and competitions would be held.

There would also be crackdowns on pornography, gambling and drug addiction.



Guangdong to launch values crusade