Summary

China Customs has seized 1,000 geography textbooks intended for Hong Kong due to inaccurate border representations.

Details of the Seizure

The confiscation occurred at the Huanggang checkpoint, where maps misrepresented sensitive areas, including Aksai Chin and South Tibet, which are contested territories between China and India.

Additionally, the maps failed to include the Diaoyu Islands (Senkaku Islands in Japan) and omitted China's U-shaped boundary line in the South China Sea.

Official Stance

Chinese authorities deemed the maps a threat to national unity and sovereignty, stating that publications not following regulatory expectations are forbidden from export.

Textbook Information

The seized textbook, "HKDSE Exam Series Getting 5** in 9 Weeks: Geography," published by Hong Kong Educational Publishing Company in 2018, was not on the Education Bureau’s recommended list.

Response from Education Bureau

The Education Bureau emphasized using only the official Chinese standard map for education and urged schools to reassess teaching materials for compliance with national security.

They stated that any non-compliant resources should be removed.

Context of Recent Incidents

Earlier, customs also seized a history textbook for a similar reason involving the Diaoyu Islands and the 10-dash line.

The publisher defended the history textbook, asserting it was printed before the latest Chinese Standard Map update.

Implications for Education

These incidents highlight increased scrutiny over educational materials in Hong Kong, raising concerns about academic freedom and historical portrayal.

Future Outlook

Stakeholders in education must navigate a landscape shaped by territorial sensitivities, leading to questions about future restrictions on content and approaches to territorial issues.