The source of Hong Kong youth’s frustration
Siegfried Sin says young people are, above all, angry at the uncompromising attitudes of the older generation, and the fact they have had no voice in society – until now
Over the past two months, Hong Kong has witnessed the biggest social movement in its history. Signs showing illustrations of umbrellas, the active participation of youth, and widespread conflict in society have characterised the umbrella movement.
Yet why, exactly, have Hong Kong’s youth stepped up? Why are we angry? What can we do next?
The question of “Why us?” has been a basic focus. We have witnessed student leaders taking a planning and execution role, with some making headlines in local and international media; thousands of other students, some still in uniform, have quietly cleaned the streets, studied in temporary self-study corners or organised different activities for the movement. As a result, it has been easy to ask whether they are under any kind of influence. Some people have talked of “foreign influence”.
I can say that there is influence – from what are known as “universal values”. We were taught well in childhood: we have embraced liberty, equality and fraternity from our history lessons; we understand the importance of the law, free speech and press and internet freedoms; and believe in hard work and reason, not tricks or crony capitalism. Such values are hardly “foreign”; although they may have been discovered outside Hong Kong, they are not hard to find, given the right time and situation. The exact meaning of these values may change, but their nature stays the same, and is applicable around the world.
With such values in mind, we feel frustrated and angry about the future of Hong Kong. Politically, we are offered a “fake democracy”, with Beijing giving the final “blessing” on chief executive candidates, and a crippled Legislative Council. Socially, welfare is minimal, and housing is starting to become an impossible dream for young people. Economically, the “Pearl of the Orient”, once a city of energy and prosperity, now clings onto finance and trade with mainland China.
We see no future in this city – a city that we love. Hong Kong should never be mediocre. And so we are speaking up now, to prevent that from happening.