Hong Kong authorities expect students as young as six to “feel proud to be Chinese” and to have a basic understanding of national affairs, according to a revamped guide on values education stressing patriotism.

The 2026 Values Education Curriculum Framework, published by the Education Bureau on Thursday, applies to all government, aided, special and private schools, as well as those under the Direct Subsidy Scheme.

The framework was prepared by the Standing Committee on Values Education, which falls under the Curriculum Development Council, and was intended to serve as a guiding document for schools to plan and implement the values education curriculum, authorities said.

It places a significantly heavier emphasis on “national identity” – one of the 12 values outlined in the document – compared with the 2021 version.

The other values are perseverance, respect for others, responsibility, commitment, integrity, benevolence, law-abidingness, empathy, diligence, filial piety and unity.

The latest guide calls for schools to deepen students’ understanding of China’s constitution, the Basic Law, national security education and the “one country, two systems” governing principle.