Continuing protests and escalating violence have rocked Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for months, plunging the city into a major political crisis. Young people in Hong Kong are again at the heart of the city's storm caused by fugitive law amendments.

Clad in black from head-to-toe, these young protesters are on the frontlines of riots, using corrosive fluid, bricks and petrol bombs against the police. They vandalized government offices and public facilities, paralyzed a major part of Hong Kong's public transportation services and set fires.

Misleading liberal studies curriculum in HK

As young people in Hong Kong continue to join protests that have grown increasingly violent and ugly, former Hong Kong chief executive Tung Chee-hwa has said the blame lies with the liberal studies curriculum at secondary schools, which he said has misled young people.

In 2009, liberal studies became a compulsory subject in the Diploma of Secondary Education curriculum. Publishing textbooks for liberal studies does not require the approval of Hong Kong's Education Bureau. Currently, textbooks are published by a variety of local publishers who might have different political views. The content of textbooks is sometimes one-sided and biased, failing to show the whole picture for students to develop a balanced view of the world.

HK youth struggling with their national identity

During the protests, young protesters were seen trampling Chinese national flags and defacing national emblems. They rallied outside the British Consulate in Hong Kong SAR, pressing the British government to help ensure their political demands are met.

These young people are struggling with their Chinese identity and nostalgic for the days when Hong Kong was a British colony. Lack of knowledge in Chinese history have blocked their eyes from the glamour of China's long-standing history and rich culture. This is also a major reason why the government is pushing on with reforms in secondary school curriculum to focus more on Chinese history as well as giving lessons on moral, civic and national education. This is seen as a way to enrich teenagers' understanding of Chinese mainland and improve their national identity.

Bond between Chinese mainland and Hong Kong

During the 150 years under British colonial rule, the bond between Chinese mainland and Hong Kong had never been cut off. Japan occupied Hong Kong during World War II in December 1941, as locals together with Dong Jiang Column relentlessly fought the invaders across the territory. A total of 259 people died and Wu Kau Tang Martyrs Monument was erected to commemorate their sacrifice.

The Japanese occupation ended after Japan's surrender at the end of World War II on August 15, 1945. During that period, many patriots emerged in Hong Kong, including Kung Fu master Geng Dehai and academics such as Mao Dun, Zou Taofen and Fan Changjiang, who made great contributions to Hong Kong's literature and press development.

During the 22 years since Hong Kong's return to its motherland in 1997, people on both sides have continuously forged and strengthened their bond. In 1998, Hong Kong donated 680 million yuan (more than 80 million U.S. dollars) when floods submerged large parts of southern China. After an 8.0-magnitude earthquake hit southwest China's Sichuan Province in 2008, the Hong Kong SAR Government and residents again showed their love for the mainland by donating 13 billion HKD (about 1.7 billion USD) and channeling hundreds of reconstruction projects and investments to the area.

People in Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland are all Chinese. It is an undeniable truth that blood is thicker than water.