Policy & RegulationAnalysis
Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang Meets Hong Kong and Macao Youth Delegation in Beijing
A delegation of nearly 1,200 student flag-raising team members was received at the Great Hall of the People by top leadership.
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The Brief
Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang met in Beijing with a visiting delegation of nearly 1,200 Hong Kong and Macao youth flag-raising team representatives at the Great Hall of the People. Conveying greetings from President Xi Jinping, Ding urged the students to understand and protect the national flag and commit themselves to the "One Country, Two Systems" framework. Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office, also attended the high-level reception, highlighting Beijing's sustained emphasis on patriotic education.
Why it matters
The high-level audience granted to the delegation underscores the central government's prioritization of patriotic education among younger generations in Hong Kong and Macao. Hosted by Ding Xuexiang, the top-ranking Politburo Standing Committee member overseeing Hong Kong and Macao affairs, alongside Xia Baolong, the reception demonstrates Beijing's view that national flag culture and civic education are foundational to implementing the governing principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong" and "patriots administering Macao."
China context
Following the enactment of national security legislation in Hong Kong, Beijing's governance strategy in the special administrative regions has expanded from institutional consolidation to nurturing national identity and patriotic sentiment among youth. Large-scale educational exchanges, such as bringing over a thousand student flag-bearers to the capital, are designed to deepen affinity for the mainland, cultivate national pride, and groom future participants in regional governance aligned with national development priorities.
Editor's View
EDITOR'S VIEW — Analysis and inference, not factual reporting.
The sheer scale of the delegation—spanning primary, secondary, and tertiary educational institutions—signals that Beijing views flag-raising ceremonies not merely as symbolic protocol, but as an institutionalized vehicle for civic cohesion. While state rhetoric framed the event around the message that Hong Kong and Macao are experiencing their "best period of development," the central leadership's direct involvement demonstrates that securing the political allegiance of post-2019 generations remains an active, top-tier priority for central authorities.
What to watch
- Whether the delegation participates in ceremonial flag-raising events at Tiananmen Square during their stay in Beijing
- Subsequent policy initiatives or curriculum guidelines from Hong Kong and Macao education authorities regarding national flag protocols
- The institutionalization and frequency of future youth exchange programs between Hong Kong, Macao, and mainland civic organizations
Key Takeaways
- 1Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang received nearly 1,200 Hong Kong and Macao student flag-raisers at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
- 2Ding delivered personal greetings from President Xi Jinping, emphasizing that the development of youth is tied to the prosperity of Hong Kong, Macao, and China.
- 3Students were exhorted to understand and protect the national flag and act as successors to the "One Country, Two Systems" framework.
- 4Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office, also attended the high-level reception.
Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang met on September 21 with a visiting delegation of nearly 1,200 youth flag-raising team representatives from Hong Kong and Macao at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, according to state media reports.
Ding, who sits on the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, conveyed cordial greetings from President Xi Jinping to the members of the "Salute to the National Flag" delegation and extended a warm welcome on behalf of the central government, official outlets Xinhua and CCTV reported.
Addressing the delegation, Ding emphasized that President Xi has consistently prioritized the growth and development of youth in Hong Kong and Macao. He reiterated Xi's position that when youth in both special administrative regions develop well, Hong Kong and Macao will thrive, and the entire nation will progress.
Ding stated that Hong Kong and Macao have entered the "best development period in history." He urged the attending students to develop a deep understanding of the national flag, translating patriotism into concrete actions. Ding called on the students to safeguard the national flag, strive to be model patriots who love both the country and their respective cities, and actively serve as builders and successors of the "One Country, Two Systems" framework.
The visiting group comprised nearly 1,200 representatives from flag-raising squads across primary schools, secondary schools, and universities in Hong Kong and Macao. Following the remarks, Ding joined the delegation for a commemorative group photograph.
Xia Baolong, head of the central authorities' Hong Kong and Macao work apparatus, also participated in the meeting, signaling the importance attached to the gathering by Beijing's regional policy leadership.
Sources
- 丁薛祥接见“向国旗敬礼”港澳青少年升旗队代表访京团 — State Council of China · 9/21/2026
- [视频]丁薛祥接见“向国旗敬礼”港澳青少年升旗队代表访京团 — Tv · 9/22/2026