A military summer camp will be organised in July to strengthen local students' national identity and cultivate proper perception of national defence, Secretary for Education & Manpower Prof Arthur Li says.

Prof Li today told lawmakers the summer camp will be jointly organised with the Chinese People's Liberation Army Forces Hong Kong, People's Liberation Army Camp Visiting Committee Hong Kong and Moral Education Concern Group.

About 100 Secondary Three or Secondary Four male students will be selected to participate in the 12-day training programme.

Series of measures launched

The secretary said his bureau always attaches great importance to history and national education in primary and secondary schools.

To enhance students' understanding of the motherland and strengthen their sense of belonging to it, the bureau has taken many measures. They include:

* launching curriculum reforms;

* introducing teacher development programmes;

* subsidising national education activities; and

* producing learning and teaching materials.

From the end of April, Mainland scholars and officials have been invited to give talks under the Understanding Contemporary China - Talk Series. At present, the programme has attracted more than 1,100 enrolments.

In the next three years, nine groups, each of 187 Secondary Six and post-secondary students and 17 group leaders, will be arranged for a 10-day National Education Course to be held in Beijing.

Students returning from the course are required to help teachers to promote national education in schools, Prof Li added.

New structure promotes national education

The secretary stressed history and national education will continuously be promoted in primary and secondary schools after implementing the 3+3+4 schooling structure.

Liberal Studies, one of the core subjects under the proposed new academic structure, develops positive values and attitudes including civic responsibility and national identity in the context of Hong Kong.

Those students with a special interest in history may choose elective subjects such as history and Chinese history. Other learning experiences also include moral and civic education.