China's Victory Day military parade Broadcast Live by Hong Kong Primary and Secondary Schools

Today marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. A grand military parade was held at Beijing's Tiananmen Square, not only to commemorate the anti-Japanese martyrs who defended the nation but also as an important occasion for China to showcase its latest military strength. In Hong Kong, the political community also views this commemoration as an opportunity to promote patriotic education. Recently, the Education Bureau sent letters to primary and secondary schools encouraging them to organize commemorative and learning activities. It is reported that many schools arranged for students to watch the live broadcast of the parade this morning.

Members of the honor guard, peacekeeping forces, militia troops, and the combined military band demonstrated their training under high temperatures.

Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu led a delegation of 360 members to Beijing yesterday, with nearly all principal officials joining the trip. Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki remained in Hong Kong to oversee operations and attended the official commemoration ceremony held this morning at the City Hall. The education sector also organized activities for the live broadcast of the parade. The Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers held a commemorative ceremony at the “Patriotic Education Support Center” in Sha Tin this morning, where they simultaneously broadcasted the parade in Beijing. Acting Secretary for Education Sze Chun-fai attended the event. Following the ceremony, a special lecture titled “The Occupation of Hong Kong from 1941 to 1945” was delivered by a historian.

As the new school year has just begun, many parents revealed in group chats yesterday that they received school notices requiring students to watch the live broadcast of the parade this morning. Students were asked to remember the history of the War of Resistance and pass on the indomitable national spirit. Some parents said they were informed that their children would not have regular classes this morning and would instead watch the broadcast in their classrooms.

The Education Bureau’s letter was suggestive and not mandatory. Most schools opted to watch the live broadcast. He added that the parade was available on various channels, allowing students to watch in different languages. The activity can help students understand the country from multiple perspectives. Also, this parade would feature previously unseen wartime military equipment, providing students with significant insights into national defense and security. Given that the school year has just begun and homework is not yet heavy, the arrangement is appropriate and would not impact students or parents.

Legislative Council member for the education sector pointed out that the anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression is one of the key dates in the Education Bureau’s “National Education Activity Planning Calendar.” Schools consider this when planning their annual teaching activities, with some even including it in their school calendars. The arrangements were not rushed and suggested that some parents might have misunderstood because they only received school notices on the first day of the new term.

Schools typically organize activities such as flag-raising ceremonies, moments of silence to mourn those who died in the war, exhibitions, and field trips as part of their school-based learning activities. For this year’s parade, many schools arranged for teachers and students to watch the live broadcast to revisit wartime history, understand the latest developments in national defense, and foster students’ sense of identity and responsibility toward the nation.

In fact, it is not the first time the government has invited schools to broadcast significant mainland ceremonies or speeches by officials. Some political figures believe that watching the military parade can serve as an opportunity to teach Hong Kong students about national history and current affairs. However, they also stressed that patriotic education requires sustained effort. Thought must be given to how commemorative activities can be transformed into routine educational practices to further cultivate students’ patriotic sentiments.