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Former Editor-in-chief Brian Leung Kai-ping (left) and feature editor Jamie Tso Hiu-nok of HKU student union's publicatiob Undergrad. Photo: May Tse

More needs to be done to engage the youth of Hong Kong

Our young people do not always get the care and respect they deserve. Their roles are being perceived as anything from victims of social ills to idealistic advocates.

Our young people do not always get the care and respect they deserve. Their roles are being perceived as anything from victims of social ills to idealistic advocates. True, their demands and aspirations are not always shared by the wider community, but they hold the key to a brighter future for our society. No government can afford disengaging so important a stakeholder.

The need to work harder on youth education and development in the wake of the Occupy protests has been well recognised in society. The chief executive has rolled out a series of measures in his policy address, including strengthening their understanding of China and enhancing their career prospects and housing needs. Similar steps are being taken by non-government bodies and businesses. For instance, the youth hostel programme by tycoon Lee Shau-kee and the Hong Kong Jockey Club's funding of HK$500 million to help youngsters plan their future are welcome steps.

That some measures have not been well received in certain quarters is unsurprising. Take the broadside against the idea of "self-determination" in a Hong Kong University student union's publication. The chief executive believed it was only right for the community to stay alert to such a notion, even though it never gained solid support in society. To Beijing and the Hong Kong government, sovereignty is a serious issue that leaves no room for compromise.

The debate deepens further as the government steps up mainland exchange programmes for local schools. Recently, the spotlight has fallen on a new patriotic youth league, in which participants will undergo military-style training by the PLA garrison. Fears of youngsters being brainwashed are further fuelled by the lack of transparency over its operation. The response is to be expected in a pluralistic society like Hong Kong. While some parents greeted the cadet corps with scepticism and worry, others were pleased to see there was such an opportunity for their children.

Enhancing patriotism among the young is nothing wrong. It is in the city's interest to develop a healthier relationship with the mainland. If the new group has a mission to promote better understanding and nationalism among the new generation, it should be done in a more open manner.

A society's future lies in its younger generation. More needs to be done to better engage our young people.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: More needed to engage youth
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