Engineering patriots in Hong Kong

 The five yellow stars were neatly coloured-in amidst a sea of red on a piece of paper stuck on to a drinking straw.

“Look, mom, it’s got to have five stars!” she said excitedly. Then she paused. “Mom, will you take me to see the flag-raising ceremony in Beijing?” she said with her little eyes twinkling expectedly. Then she started humming the Chinese national anthem. I was taken aback. I murmured: “Yes darling, one day, when you’re older.”

This indoctrination of patriotism is coming a bit too early, I thought. I looked at my daughter and tried to hide my unease. In the 15 years since Britain handed over this territory to China, Hong Kongers have enjoyed a large degree of freedom and independence from mainland control.

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But a perceived lack of patriotism among the people here frustrates mainland Chinese officials who do not understand why numerous trade deals aimed at boosting Hong Kong’s economy have failed to win over the hearts of its citizens.

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The Hong Kong government, likely prompted by Beijing, has reacted with a new plan to introduce national education classes in the primary and secondary school curriculum in September. Having already witnessed the effect of Communist Party indoctrination on my daughter, I took one look at the new teaching materials and I knew the plan was a step too far.

I was one of the tens of thousands of people who braved the scorching heat in humid Hong Kong on July 29, soaked in sweat, carrying our children on a march under the sweltering sun, saying no to the government’s plan.