Welcome to "Hong Kong, Our Home"!

Hello, amazing students! Get ready to explore our wonderful home, Hong Kong! In these notes, we'll learn about the different people who live here, the special rules that keep our city running smoothly, and how each of us can be a superstar citizen. Learning this is important because it helps us love and understand our home even more!


A Colourful City: Our Big Hong Kong Family!

Have you ever seen a big box of crayons with lots of different colours? Hong Kong is just like that! It's a multi-cultural city, which is a big word that simply means it's home to people from many different places and with different backgrounds.

What does "multi-cultural" look like?

Imagine you're making a giant fruit salad. You add apples, bananas, grapes, and strawberries. Each fruit is different, but together they make the salad extra yummy! In Hong Kong:

  • We have people from all over China, bringing different foods and traditions.

  • We have friends from other parts of Asia, like the Philippines, Indonesia, India, and Nepal.

  • We have people from countries far away, like the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.

All these different people, or "cultures," share their stories, food, and festivals with us. This is what makes Hong Kong so special and exciting! For example, we can enjoy delicious dim sum, spicy Indian curry, and sweet Filipino desserts all in one city!

Did you know?

Hong Kong is often called "Asia's World City" because so many people from different parts of the world live, work, and play here together in harmony.

Key Takeaway

Hong Kong is a multi-cultural home. This means we should always be kind, welcoming, and respectful to everyone, no matter where they come from. Our differences make our city stronger and more interesting!


Our Special Rulebook: The Basic Law

Every fun game, like football or tag, has rules to make sure everyone plays fairly and safely. Our city, Hong Kong, also has a very important set of rules called the Basic Law. You can think of it as Hong Kong's "mini-constitution" or main rulebook.

What is "One Country, Two Systems"?

This is a very important idea behind the Basic Law. It might sound tricky, but let's use an analogy!

Imagine a big, happy family. This family is our country, China (this is the "One Country" part).

Now, imagine one of the children in the family is Hong Kong. Hong Kong has its own special room in the family house. Inside this room, Hong Kong can have its own rules, use its own toys, and read its own storybooks. These different rules and ways of life are the "Two Systems" part.

So, Hong Kong is part of the China family, but it has its own unique system and way of life.

Everyday Examples of "One Country, Two Systems":

  • Our Money: When you go to a shop, you use Hong Kong Dollars (HKD). This is different from the money used in other parts of China.

  • Our Travel Documents: We have our own Hong Kong SAR passport to travel to other countries.

Quick Review

The Basic Law is Hong Kong's most important rulebook. It is based on the idea of "One Country, Two Systems", which lets Hong Kong be part of China while keeping its own special way of life.


Why the Basic Law is Our Shield

The Basic Law isn't just a list of rules; it's like a superhero's shield that protects our lives and our rights. A "right" is something that everyone is allowed to have or do, to make sure we are treated fairly.

The Basic Law helps protect us by making sure:

  • We are safe in our homes.

  • We can share our thoughts and ideas freely.

  • We can go to school and get a good education.

  • Our unique culture and traditions are respected.

This special rulebook helps make sure Hong Kong remains a safe, fair, and free place for all of us to live and grow up in.

Key Takeaway

The Basic Law is very important because it protects our way of life and our rights as residents of Hong Kong.


Our Job: Being a Great Hong Kong Citizen!

Since we live in this amazing city, we are all part of "Team Hong Kong"! And as a good teammate, we have a role to play. This is called being a good citizen. A big part of this is observing law and order, which just means following the rules.

How can you be a good citizen? It's easy!

  • Keep Hong Kong Clean: Put your rubbish in the bin. Don't litter!

  • Be Orderly: Wait in line (queue up) for the bus, MTR, or at the school canteen.

  • Be Safe: Cross the road only when the green man is showing. Look left and right!

  • Be Kind and Helpful: Help someone who is lost, offer your seat to someone who needs it more, and always say "please" and "thank you."

  • Be Respectful: Be kind to your neighbours and classmates, especially those from different cultures (remember our big Hong Kong family!).

Mistake to Avoid!

Some people think being a good citizen is a big, difficult job for adults only. That's not true! Being a good citizen is about all the small, positive things you do every single day.

Key Takeaway

Being a good citizen means following the rules and being a kind, respectful, and helpful member of our community. Every small good choice you make helps make our home, Hong Kong, an even better place to live!