As a major reflection on the horizontal and vertical integration of the content of the curriculum, textbooks are the main resource of teachers. The aim of this study was to analyze the content of selected series of primary music textbooks in Hong Kong. An analysis framework was designed. Data obtained from the analysis were subjected to basic descriptive statistics. Demographics including frequency and percentage distributions of the listed features were studied. The analysis was done on the micro level as well as the macro level. The intra and inter relationships of the content of the textbook series were revealed. It could be seen that the music elements and music knowledge were presented in quite a balanced proportion. The performing of music in various forms was a dominant classroom activity while the proportion of creating music is still small and that on the listening to music was acceptable. Assessment activity was minimal. Other significant result included that the number of songs of foreign origins outnumbered that of Chinese and local origins though the language used was mostly Cantonese. Since textbook is a kind of operational curriculum, it is recommended that a more balanced content should be included and designed for a more comprehensive and effective music teaching and learning.
[Copyright © 2000 The Hong Kong Institute of Education]

The 1997 handover created demands for teaching Chinese culture at and above college level, including those being trained to be teachers. There have been debates on Chinese culture texts and relevant parts of the up-coming high school liberal studies syllabus. The criticisms reflect worries about indoctrinating patriotism and occasionally, losing the right to interpret Chinese culture to the national political centre. While using international scholarship in anthropology and other disciplines might answer some of these concerns, "internationalizing" alone does not help foster participation in interpreting Chinese culture or build a sense of community with alternative voices in the mainland. This paper describes attempts to introduce the work of mainland scholars in anthropology and other disciplines which transcend the tradition-versus-modernity and Chinese-versus-foreign dichotomies. As many of those authors do some of their writings for the mainland reading public, address current issues in mainland China, and often are concerned about empowerment through understanding marginalized traditions, the inclusion of more of their work in teaching Chinese culture in Hong Kong could help nurture "non-official" concepts of being Chinese without opting out of a sense of community that can benefit many on either side of the Hong Kong – mainland divide.

This is a narrative self study of the professional experience of a teacher educator on identity education in Hong Kong. In the process of promoting a set of teaching strategies to teacher educators, in-service and pre-service teachers of history and civic education, he was able to explore their perceptions on identity education for youngsters in Hong Kong after her political handover in 1997. It was found that while even educators felt ambivalent about their identities as Hong Kong Chinese, the directions and approaches for identity education also became controversial in the educational field in Hong Kong. This inquiry has demonstrated, with global significance, both the complexity of the issue of identity and the challenges of promoting identity education on a politically shifting landscape.