Youth discuss current issues
Secondary school students have taken part in a face- to-face dialogue with legislator Leung Fu-wah on labour importation.
The youth forum was held at the Hang Seng School of Commerce. It was organised by Radio Television Hong Kong Radio 1 (RTHK1). Participating schools were True Light Girls' College, Christ College and New Life School Incorporated Lui Kwok Pat Fong College.
The forum aimed to raise students' awareness of current affairs and policies through discussions with policy-makers.
Most students opposed the importation of foreign workers. They feared it would worsen the unemployment situation.
However, they agreed importing highly qualified personnel could help Hong Kong become a hi-tech city.
Chris Lai Ho-yee, 18, of Christ College, said young people should not consider foreign workers as competitors but as collaborators from whom they could learn a lot.
'If we are talking about overseas elites, they are the world class talents that Hong Kong cannot produce,' she said.
However, Scott Chan Hung- woon, 17, of Lui Kwok Pat Fong College wondered if Hong Kong could attract world class talent.
'Hong Kong is such a small place. The Government has spent a lot of effort and money to develop the hi-tech industry. But progress is very slow,' he said.
'Most Hong Kong people are not familiar with high technology. It will take a long time to educate them to use information technology (IT) in their daily lives. I wonder whether world class experts will be willing to work here,' he said.
Hung-woon won the award for the most outspoken speaker.
He said his team did not spend too much time preparing for the forum. That was because they did not want to present material they had prepared earlier. Rather, they wanted to use their news sense and general knowledge to express their ideas spontaneously.
His colleague, Benny Kwok Shek-lam, 17, said the opportunity to discuss current issues with policy-makers was a valuable experience.
'Although I am not sure if they will take our suggestions into account, the opportunity has opened up a channel for us to express our viewpoints,' he said.
Another team member, Joe Li Man-hon, 17, said at least the forum allowed them to exchange ideas with other students.
The team from Christ College won the award for the best performance. The other two members of the team were Ben Tam Wai-kei and Jimi Ho Pui-ki, both 18.
