Hong Kong schools must hold national flag ceremonies at least once a week under new Education Bureau rules

Schools must stage ceremonies raising the national flag at least once a week from next year and ensure it is displayed every day during term time under new guidelines issued by the Hong Kong government.

The Education Bureau circular released on Monday made no mention of penalties for non-compliance, but stated that students found to have behaved improperly during the ceremonies should be stopped or removed from the venue.

The national anthem must be played and sung at the ceremonies, which should be attended by the entire school community and held on special occasions as well as on a weekly basis, the circular says.

Such occasions include graduation and sports events in addition to New Year’s Day, the July 1 celebration of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese sovereignty and National Day on October 1.

Schools are asked to display the Hong Kong flag alongside the national one if there are enough poles. All students, teachers and staff at the school should attend the flag-raising ceremonies “as far as practicable”.

The new guidelines – to take effect on January 1 next year – were issued after the Legislative Council last month amended the National Flag and Emblem Ordinance to ban turning the ensign upside down and its casual disposal.

A bureau spokesman said the move aimed to “promote national education and help students develop a sense of belonging to the country, an affection for the Chinese people and enhance their sense of national identity”.

The spokesman added that cultivating students’ sense of national identity was one of the key learning goals of primary and secondary education, and also the educational obligation of schools.