Let's cultivate a sense of respect and tolerance in the young people of Hong Kong
York Chow says that, given Hong Kong's turbulent times, it's especially important to teach children respect for others' views even when we disagree, and to be ready for dialogue
August 12 is International Youth Day, with this year's theme focusing on civic engagement. The topic is indeed fitting for Hong Kong, given that our young people have, over the past year or so, attracted much attention locally and internationally due to their active and, to some, radical participation in our city's political and social issues. While some may perceive our younger generation as impractical in their idealism, I believe they can be a force to drive the advancement of equality in our society.
Throughout my career and as a parent, I have had numerous conversations with young people on issues relating to social justice and civic responsibilities. These thoughtful dialogues reaffirmed my belief that young people will play a key role in defining our city's human rights landscape in the years to come.
Indeed, we are standing on the precipice of how we, as a society, must define ourselves and our core values. As a cosmopolitan city and an international centre for commerce and business, we have long been a place where East meets West, where diverse values and traditions coexist and thrive. We are proudly a leader in the region with regard to our legal infrastructure for the protection of individual rights. And we are one of the few places in the region with specific anti-discrimination laws.
But that does not mean we should be complacent. After all, the concept of "human rights" is always evolving. For Hong Kong to continue to thrive, we must be ready to adapt accordingly and make sure our laws keep up.
But beyond reviewing the laws, we must also begin to draw our own road map for the shifting equality landscape, including raising public awareness.
Our galvanised youth, full of passion to serve and coming from a variety of backgrounds, can surely make an important contribution to the discussion. To achieve this, we must equip them with the skills to look at these concerns with empathy, mutual respect and an open mind.