1 June 2025

There are two days we need to pay special attention to in June, one at the beginning, one at the end. The first one is the International Children’s Day on 1 June.  International Children's Day was first proclaimed in Geneva during the World Conference on Child Welfare in 1925. On 4 November 1949, 1 June was established as the International Day for Protection of Children by the Women's International Democratic Federation in Moscow.  Since 1950, 1 June is celebrated as Children’s Day in many countries.

 

We see children as individuals that we care for, rather than our subordinates. It is our duty to make sure they grow up healthily, both physically and mentally, and that they are learned and proper. The day also emphasises the importance of children’s rights, as well as welfare, not to mention the abhorrence of child labour or abuse.

 

At the secondary school setting, we are advised to let students play traditional Chinese toys, and to research different Chinese toys in the past, their popularities and their educational implications. After playing, students might decide to prepare projects to advertise or revive the useful and educational ones for modern pastimes.

 

This 30 June will mark the fifth year of enforcing national security laws in Hong Kong. The Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is a national law of China on Hong Kong national security passed in 2020. It is implemented in Hong Kong in accordance with Hong Kong Basic Law Article 18, which allows for China's national laws to be valid in Hong Kong if they are included in Annex III. It was formulated under the authorization of the National People’s Congress decision on Hong Kong national security legislation. The law was passed on 30 June 2020 by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress as a means to enable extradition to other territories including the Mainland, and the duties for Hong Kong members to safeguard the national security which all came into force that same day.

 

Although we are coming to a close of a school year, there is still much to learn.

 

Anson Yang