Please NO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wake me up after the patriotism debate passes us by. I am sure that this is the first volley and what will prove to be another sickening barrage leading up to the glorious July 1 National Day and protest march [only a month and a half away!].

The Legislative Council unanimously passed a motion encouraging the raising of the national flag at all schools and government buildings on important anniversaries but stopped short of making the display mandatory.

The motion, proposed by Ma Lik, chairman of the pro-Beijing Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, was supported by the Democratic and Liberal parties.

Now, this piece of legislation is actually quite interesting since the motion is voluntary and only encourages the raising of the flag at all schools and government buildings. A principal or administrator at these facilities, however, may find that not displaying the flag for the appropriate occasions could subject them to charges in the future questioning their patriotism and may impact their careers. So, its probably best to do what is asked and display the flag dutifully on all deemed appropriate occasions..

But get this...

Unionist Wong Kwok-hing said it is a shame that places like the City Hall and General Post Office in Central do not even have flagpoles yet.

That is an interesting observation. There is definitely room at City Hall for a flag [They do have a war memorial there that I have inspected] but I cannot envision an appropriate place near or on the Central Post Office. I will also have a look at the schools in the area and see if they have hoisted a flag.

Furthermore, Jackie Chan has been drafted to promote the national anthem, The March of the Volunteers. The link gives an interesting historical context to the song that was written and was one of the patriotic resistance songs sung in the midst of the Sino-Japanese war, 1937-1945.

The government is banking on the star power of Chan and other well-known local figures to strengthen national identity and knowledge of the Chinese national anthem in a fresh round of lengthened television ad campaigns.

The Lyrics in English.

Arise, ye who refuse to be slaves!
Let us amount our flesh and blood towards our new Great Wall!
The Chinese nation has come to the time of its greatest danger,
From everyone's oppression shall come our final roar
Arise! Arise! Arise!
We are many, but our hearts beat as one!
Selflessly braving the enemy's gunfire, march on!
Selflessly braving the enemy's gunfire, march on!
March on! March on! on!

Lets see what other interesting things come about in the next 6 weeks. As I wrote in April, pro-Beijing legislators were questioning Donald Tsang's patriotism.