Changing political scenario in Hong Kong and its impact on education after July 1997

Change is endemic to Hong Kong, particularly in the new era when the Chinese government overtakes the sovereignty from Britain after one-and-a-half centuries of colonial rule. According to the Sino-British Joint Agreement signed in 1984, Hong Kong people can live under ‘One Country, Two Systems’ for a period of fifty years. Both of the capitalist and communist systems have exerted influence in the formation of the new government for a period of fifty years. As education policy changes significantly under the purview of the Basic Law, traditional curricula are no longer adequate for the rapid changing political scenario. Politicians and educators are seeking new directions in shaping our education agenda. Civic education, which has never been important in the curriculum in the past, is gaining attention as people are finding ways of harmonizing nationalism, capitalism, communism and patriotism in the new era. The use of Chinese instead of English as the first language of instruction also causes significant change in education. With the influx of migrants from China, there is a call for adjustment programmes for new migrants and the deprived. Affective education, such as personal and social education, guidance and counselling, moral education and sex education is gaining importance particularly. It is timely for us to modify the curricula for the needs of society and potential development of students. It is also interesting for education researchers to look into the development of the new curricula, particularly the effectiveness of the personal and social education developed in the new era.