The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of China's State Council and the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) said on Friday that the education system in HKSAR must stick to the right direction and Beijing supports the HKSAR government to establish its education system in accordance with "One Country, Two Systems" principle.

The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of China's State Council said in a statement that national education has long been absent in Hong Kong and the toxic and extreme ideas of so-called "Hong Kong independence" must be eradicated in Hong Kong schools.

The remarks came after radical groups incited students and schools to organize strikes to oppose the implementation of a national security legislation for Hong Kong. Deputies to the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) voted overwhelmingly in favor of the decision on "Establishing and Improving the Legal System and Enforcement Mechanisms for the HKSAR to Safeguard National Security" at the closing meeting of the NPC annual session. The legislation will be added to Annex III to the HKSAR Basic Law.

A spokesperson of the Liaison Office said that relevant departments in Hong Kong and the whole society should work together to ensure that knowledge is passed on to students without being distorted, and patriotism is promoted among Hong Kong's younger generation with concrete steps.

Noting some teachers purposefully bringing politics into schools, the spokesperson denounced their behavior, saying they fail to perform their jobs and neglect their duties. Such manipulation came at the expense of the students' interests and prospects, the spokesperson pointed out.

Pupils should not be exploited as "shells" and "tools" for their political ends, the spokesperson stated, adding that students have suffered gravely in the prolonged social unrest.

Data showed that as of May 29, students accounted for over 40 percent of the 8,981 people who were under arrest for participating illegal activities with the youngest aged at 11 years old.

Undoubtedly, education in Hong Kong schools has severely deviated from the right direction, said the spokesperson, urging immediate actions and joint efforts from the whole society to protect children from being contaminated by separatist forces.

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HKSAR chief executive signs National Anthem Bill

On Thursday, HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam signed the National Anthem Bill in accordance with the HKSAR Basic Law. The bill will come into effect immediately after it is published in the Gazette on Friday.

China's National Anthem Law came into force in the Chinese mainland in 2017 and then the Standing Committee of the 12th National People's Congress adopted the decision to add the law to Annex III to the HKSAR Basic Law.

In accordance with Article 18 of the Basic Law, the national laws listed in Annex III to the Basic Law shall be applied locally by way of promulgation or legislation by the HKSAR.