Hong Kong marked its annual National Security Education Day on April 15, 2026, with over 2,300 residents and officials gathering at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre to reinforce commitments to stability and development. The event comes as the city enters the first year of China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), positioning national security as foundational to economic progress.
Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office, emphasized in a video address that "security has become Hong Kong's developmental advantage." He outlined a dual focus for the current Five-Year Plan period: maintaining vigilance against risks while accelerating high-quality growth through alignment with national strategies. "Only by safeguarding the bottom line of security can we secure development and the future," Xia stated, highlighting Hong Kong's transformation from chaos to prosperity since 2020.
HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee reinforced this message, urging residents to maintain a "holistic approach to national security" amid global uncertainties. The leadership outlined concrete measures including enhanced legal education for youth and closer coordination with mainland institutions.
Analysts observe this year's emphasis reflects Hong Kong's evolving role as both financial hub and national security frontier. With over 100 schools participating in parallel educational activities, the event signals growing institutionalization of security awareness since the 2019 social unrest.
Reference(s):
Hong Kong marks key education day on safeguarding national security
cgtn.com
