Letters | China needs to fix itself before asking that Hong Kong be happy to integrate

I refer to your editorial, “Promote the benefits of integration with mainland” (November 25). Integration, along with fostering patriotism, though desirable, is not something we can rush. Purposely speeding up this integration will only widen the rift between Hong Kong youngsters and China.

Time should be given to youngsters to finally accept their given identity as a Chinese citizen, the same way China needs time to alleviate all of her undeniable social and environmental issues. Just over two decades ago we were living under British rule, which was a completely different form of governance from that of the People’s Republic of China. The fundamental values of Hongkongers and mainlanders are different: the ideas of democracy and capitalism are concrete and are the values we built our city on, unlike in China.

Truth be told, the issues in China, including the limited freedom of speech and lack of privacy, make everyone halt their steps towards the mainland. Unless these issues are solved and faith in the PRC within the newer generation is restored, integration will not happen with the acceptance of Hongkongers at large.