Hong Kong sectors rush to hold seminars to study Xi Jinping’s speech, sparking debate on effectiveness of such ‘mainland-style’ forums

Education, social welfare sectors among latest to host seminars aimed at learning, promoting and implementing ‘the spirit of Xi’s important speech’

Analysts say ‘formalistic seminars’ on studying state leaders’ speeches may not be effective and Hongkongers are not used to such a practice

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Chinese President Xi Jinping makes a speech at a gathering celebrating the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule last week.
Photo: Felix Wong

Published: 10:00am, 6 Jul 2022Updated: 5:43pm, 6 Jul 2022

Hong Kong’s education and social welfare sectors are among the latest racing to hold seminars to study Chinese President Xi Jinping’s speech during his visit last week for the 25th anniversary of the city’s return to Chinese rule.

As of Wednesday, similar talks were already organised for representatives of the business and information technology sectors, as well as for political parties and community groups.

Some analysts expressed concern about importing the practice of conducting “mainland Chinese-style” seminars. Others said it was Beijing’s idea to promote Xi’s message in the city because it was of “strategic importance” to the future of the “one country, two systems” governing principle.

Secretary for Education Christine Choi. Photo: Handout

A spokesman for the Education Bureau on Tuesday said Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-Lin would attend a seminar on learning, promoting and implementing “the spirit of Xi’s important speech”. The seminar on Friday will be hosted by pro-Beijing groups the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers and Hua Xia Education Foundation.

Xi had made an important speech and given the city support and direction for future development, the spokesman said.

“All sectors of the community including the education sector attach great importance [to it],” he said, but declined to comment on whether students and teachers would also be required to study Xi’s speech.

Wong Kam-leung, the federation’s chairman, said the seminar aimed at “sharing” Xi’s speech within the education sector to nurture students with talent and virtues, but said the federation was not asking to make studying the speech compulsory for students.