Political change in Hong Kong and its implications for civic education

In political culture, Hong Kong has undergone dramatic changes in recent decades. When Hong Kong was a British colony, its people were largely concerned to maintain the status quo so that they could be left alone; the ideal government was perceived as a paternalistic one which would maintain law and order. With their increasing involvement in political parties and pressure groups, more Hong Kong people are prepared to fight for their rights and demand ''freedom and democracy''; they want a more representative government in the form of a widely elected Legislative Council. The return to Chinese sovereignty in 1997 and ''one country, two systems'' means that the Hong Kong people have to learn to administer their own affairs. Yet this is within a context in which China is suspicious of a democratic regime in Hong Kong on the grounds that it threatens her rule over the territory. This paper considers the implications of this situation for civic education in Hong Kong, which was promoted in schools after the publication of the Guidelines in 1985. With July 1997 looming, it is timely to review the programme's objectives, achievements and prospects.