In an effort to teach moral integrity and the idea that education is a means to success, schools in Hong Kong have traditionally stressed discipline. Strictly run classrooms, uniforms, and morning checks and assemblies are common. Teachers expect students to obey without question. To reinforce this discipline, students in both primary and secondary levels are required to wear uniforms. Usually, girls wear dark-colored skirts and light-colored blouses, with a tie and blazer or sweater. The boys wear similar colored pants and shirts with ties and blazers.

Students form in assemblies every morning in an orderly manner. Secondary school teacher Marcia Hohmann writes, "The whole process reminds me of a military-style line-up: orders are shouted, actions are performed swiftly, efficiently and—most importantly—quietly." Students must go to assigned places. And toward the end of the assembly comes Hohmann's "favorite part of the morning—uniform check...