The debate over the implementation of moral and national education (MNE) as a subject in Hong Kong has turned into a political duel between national identity recognition and "Hong Kong independence" activists. The lessons from the MNE controversy deserve much attention from those who love the country and Hong Kong.

First of all, people must keep in mind that the opposition will spare no effort pushing toward "Hong Kong independence". The opposition camp is obsessed with "Hong Kong independence" for cultural as well as political reasons. The political reason lies in the fact that "Hong Kong independence" is derived from anti-Communist ideology. The opposition opposes efforts to enhance all kinds of exchanges between Hong Kong and the mainland and cross-boundary integration, because the Communist Party of China (CPC) is the country's ruling party.

The cultural reason for "Hong Kong independence" lies in the fact that the great majority of the opposition camp is completely sold on Western culture, represented by the UK and the US, through education and personal experience and is emotionally detached from the motherland. The leading figures in the opposition camp are mostly well educated. They have the know-how to package their "Hong Kong independence" ideas and sell them by political, legal and procedural means whenever there is an opportunity.

Some local observers believe the sudden surge of anti-MNE rhetoric was triggered by a teacher's reference book recommended for the implementation of MNE in schools. Such observations is a little too naive. The fact is the opposition parties have never given up their attempts to obstruct national education in Hong Kong, even though government records show that 84 percent of local primary and secondary schools agreed national education is necessary, when the plan was submitted for public consultation last year.

The opposition didn't launch the anti-MNE offensive earlier because they were waiting for the perfect opportunity. The teacher's reference book was used merely as an excuse to oppose MNE's introduction to schools by scare-mongering. The opposition camp will do everything it can to block any step by the government to increase exchanges between Hong Kong and the mainland, with any excuse they can find or fabricate, because the end justifies the means and their end is "Hong Kong independence" from the CPC rule.

Second, people should keep their confidence in establishing broad recognition of our national identity and keep working on it despite difficulties and setbacks. The MNE program suffered a heavy setback this time and similar efforts will no doubt run into all kinds of ambushes from now on, but the trend of accepting national identity by Hong Kong residents cannot be killed. Winning popular acceptance of national identity is a natural step following the handover of sovereignty over Hong Kong back to China. The process of achieving this goal and the means by which it is achieved can be tweaked through discussion, but the goal itself must not be changed.

At a time when China is rising fast and has become the second largest economic power in the world after the US, some members of the opposition camp are attempting to turn Hong Kong into an independent political entity next to the mainland, but still able to benefit from the strong development of the national economy. That is a wild dream of theirs that can never become reality. Even the Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan now reckons "Taiwan independence" is doomed to go nowhere. It is simply a display of political naivete and ignorance for the opposition camp here to attempt "Hong Kong independence".

Third, efforts to implement national education and achieving popular acceptance of the national identity need better strategies. Why? Because after all, Hong Kong was cut off from the motherland for more than one-and-a-half centuries and has lived under a unique culture and different political system for quite a long time. As a result its social awareness is considerably different from that of the mainland. Therefore, if the SAR government's policies and measures do not fully recognize these differences, they are very likely to be questioned and disputed by some Hong Kong residents, who may be convinced by the opposition to join its "Hong Kong independence" attempts.

Even more significant is the fact that Hong Kong has become a beachhead for Western powers headed by the US since the founding of the People's Republic of China, and they have trained a bunch of native speakers to act as their functionaries with a much larger number of followers. As China's rise gained momentum in recent years, the US has become increasingly anxious about its dominance in this part of the world and naturally is stepping up efforts to use its native functionaries here to distract Beijing by messing up Hong Kong. That explains why the opposition camp has been so impressive in its recent political maneuvers aimed at sowing discord between Hong Kong residents and their mainland compatriots.

The author is a veteran current affairs commentator.

(HK Edition 10/18/2012 page3)