Hong Kong's Education Department has criticised two schools after an inspection found their students were singing the Chinese national anthem "too softly".
The inspectors also advised another school to provide "more guidance" to students to "cultivate their habit and confidence in singing the national anthem".
It was reported that students at the Yan Chai Hospital Lim Por Yen Secondary School sang the national anthem softly during flag-raising ceremonies.
Teachers were recommended to "give reminders and help students develop a habit of singing the national anthem loudly in unison".
Students at the Hong Kong and Macau Lutheran Church Primary School were singled out for singing the national anthem "soft and weak".
The comments were made in external review reports on 20 schools released by the education department.
The inspections come amid an increased push for patriotic education in Hong Kong schools since 2020 when China cracked down on the city's pro-democracy protests and passed a national security law.
Hong Kong's legislature approved a controversial bill that makes it illegal to insult the Chinese national anthem in June 2020.
In January this year, China's first patriotic education law to promote nationalism among young people came into effect.
It obligates schools, institutions, families and individuals to deliver patriotic education to young people, while stating the dos and don'ts of being patriotic.
Increasing patriotic education in Hong Kong
Beyond comments around the national anthem, the reports recommended several schools strengthen their patriotic education curriculums.
One school was asked to "increase students' awareness on national security" rather than just "promoting Chinese culture".
"The school should cultivate the understanding that national security is closely related to everyday lives," the report said.
At least two schools were commended for promoting patriotic education both inside and outside the classroom.
One school "intentionally set up exhibitions with elements including Chinese culture and national security education" and the students sung the national anthem "loudly and respectfully".
Another school organised an exhibition on China's space program on parent-teacher day to "nurture students' sense of belonging to the country".
Earlier this year, Hong Kong's chief secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki called for a "soft approach" to fostering patriotic education among the city's youth through film culture, mega sports events and exchanges such as visits to aerospace facilities.
"Patriotism is not about rote memorisation," Mr Chan said, according to the South China Morning Post.
"Understanding [the country] is the first step, and the ultimate goal is to achieve emotional connection, genuine acknowledgement of the country, a sense of pride for the nation with a conscious effort to love and safeguard the country."
The push for patriotism is widely criticised as a part of Beijing's growing control over the city.
