1,200 Hong Kong and Macao Delegates Arrive in Beijing for Patriotic Education Program

September 20, 2026 - 09:30

Roughly 1,200 delegates from Hong Kong and Macao landed in Beijing on Friday night to take part in a visit focused on strengthening patriotic education among young people from the two special administrative regions. The group includes about 1,000 student representatives who serve in flag-raising teams at their schools, a detail that underscores the ceremonial and symbolic weight of the trip.

The delegation is scheduled to remain in the capital until Tuesday. During that window, participants are expected to join a series of activities designed to build a stronger sense of national identity and connection to the mainland. For many of the students, this marks one of their first extended stays in Beijing, offering direct exposure to the country's political and cultural center.

Flag-raising teams hold a visible place in Hong Kong and Macao schools, where they perform regular ceremonies that blend discipline with civic symbolism. Bringing these students together in Beijing turns that routine into a shared, large-scale experience. Organizers frame the visit as a way to help young people from the two regions understand the country's development and history beyond what they encounter in classrooms.

The trip reflects a continuing push to engage younger generations in the two regions through structured programs that combine travel, study, and ceremony. For the students involved, the days ahead will mix formal sessions with visits across the city before they return home on Tuesday.