Hong Kong Education Minister Says Schools Are Frontline Against 'Soft Resistance' Fueled by Online Rumors, Urges Patriotic Education

Hong Kong's Education Minister has stated that schools are on the frontline in preventing the spread of "soft resistance" among students, which may arise from exposure to online rumors. The minister emphasized that Hong Kong, as a diverse and highly interconnected society, is particularly vulnerable to what is described as cognitive warfare. Schools are encouraged to cultivate patriotism to counteract the development of extreme and biased values among students. This approach has drawn criticism from observers who characterize it as an effort by Beijing to use schools as propaganda and re-education centers.