Letters | Joshua Wong may hold the key to ending the protests and creating a bright future for Hong Kong

Today’s problems are just so much larger, deeper and more complex. Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s reckless extradition bill exposed problems so big that they cannot be quickly or easily resolved: the enormous wealth gap in Hong Kong and our different lifestyles vis-à-vis China. The young, in particular, have their whole lives before them and see only obstacles they cannot surmount.

The immediate problem was caused by Lam’s efforts to ram through the passage of the bill, regardless of all else, in callous disregard for the Hong Kong populace. Anyone familiar with Hong Kong’s history would know that this would have been seen by many as a first step towards reinstating the dreaded Article 23.

Dialogue is now imperative, but it must be open, sincere and inclusive. The problems must be clearly defined and accepted by all parties – the Hong Kong government, Beijing, the affected Hong Kong sectors, such as the business sector, and the youth – for any progress to be made.