A gala was held today to showcase the achievements of “Love Our Home, Treasure Our Country” national education activities in government schools this school year, with Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing and Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin attending as officiating guests.

Staged by the Education Bureau in celebration of the 26th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the Government Schools Joint School Activities Gala had a total of around 500 attendees, including representatives from the bureau itself, schools, school head associations and sponsoring bodies.

Mr Cheuk stressed at the gala that strengthening national education on all fronts is a major initiative from the Government. Besides thanking all principals and teachers for their efforts and contributions towards national education, he said he was pleased with students' enthusiastic participation.

Dr Choi noted that the bureau had helped 65 government schools to launch national education activities during this school year. He said more than 12,000 teachers and students from both government and non-government schools had participated in such activities, with excellent results.

Joint school activities undertaken included exhibitions, fun days, competitions, performances and community exploration endeavours to deepen students' understanding of Chinese culture and cultivate in them a sense of national identity.

Today’s gala, the grand finale of the "Love Our Home, Treasure Our Country" series, featured a flag raising ceremony and a Chinese-style foot drill by school flag-guards, as well as folk music, dance and martial arts performances.

The bureau emphasised that it will continue to promote national education activities in the 2023-24 school year and organise more diversified learning activities to promote the theme.