Jennifer Ho
2005-08-31 06:50
A hundred Hong Kong secondary students learned a great deal during a visit to the Chinese capital, including insights into the intense work ethic.
"There was a strong learning atmosphere at Tsinghua University and the students there were very hard-working. They studied hard even in the summer holidays. This made us feel ashamed," said Mo Lai-lee, a secondary seven student from Po Leung Kuk Ma Kam Ming Cheung Fu Sin College.
The national identity boost summer holiday trip to Beijing, from August 1 to 8, was for students who are of secondary three or above. They were from 15 secondary schools.
The trip, organized by Hong Kong Institute for Promotion of Chinese Culture, aimed to provide an opportunity for Hong Kong students to gain a deeper understanding about the motherland through their first-hand experience - to see and feel Beijing.
At a sharing gathering yesterday, all participants agreed that the most impressive part of the trip was the visit to the Forbidden City and the Great Wall. They were all amazed by the absolute beauty and tremendous power of the ancient architecture.
They were also very excited to watch the flag-raising ceremony in Tian'anmen Square. All said they were touched by the sight of the national flag being raised when the national anthem was played. They thought that the ceremony had made them proud of being Chinese.
They also visited a memorial museum for the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, with displays of military photos and statues.
Cruelty of aggressors
Mo Lai-lee said the displays showed the cruelty of the aggressors and made her feel heartache.
"I was sad when seeing those pictures," Mo said. She hoped that people would learn from the history and not make the same mistakes any more.
Apart from visiting historic scenic spots, the students attended lectures on economics, politics, culture, science technology and education. The lectures were given by professors from Tsinghua University.
Most of the participants were interested in knowing about the lives of people at mainland universities.
They were led by students from Tsinghua University, who helped them gain a closer look at the facilities and life on the campus of the university that is well-known throughout the world.
A secondary four student Jackie Wong from the Immaculate Heart of Mary College said that Tsinghua University is a good place to study.
"The excellent facilities, such as a library and book stores, offer a nice learning environment for students. I hope to further my studies there in the future!" Wong said.
(HK Edition 08/31/2005 page2)
