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Xi Jinping (right) with then chief executive Leung Chun-ying, visiting the Junior Police Call last year. Photo: Nora Tam
Hong KongPolitics

Chinese President Xi Jinping urges Hong Kong’s youth to read, travel and learn about the country

In response to Lunar New Year letter from police youth group, Xi appeals for city’s youngsters to ‘take practical actions to serve Hong Kong and serve the country’

Xi Jinping
Ernest Kao
Ernest Kao
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Hong Kong youngsters should “read thousands of books”, travel more and try to deepen their understanding of history and national affairs, President Xi Jinping said in response to a Lunar New Year greeting from members of a police youth group.
Wang Zhimin, head of Beijing’s liaison office in the city, on Thursday presented Xi’s reply to the Hong Kong Junior Police Call (JPC), whose training camp the president visited during a tour of the city last year.

In the message, Xi reciprocated the good wishes and extended new year greetings to “wider youth” in the city.

“I hope you will read thousands of books, travel thousands of miles and learn more history, learn more about the national conditions, broaden your horizons, increase your knowledge, hone your skills, become an early leader, and take practical actions to serve Hong Kong and serve the country,” Xi’s letter read.

Junior Police Call members with their letter from Xi, along with Wang Zhimin (right). Photo: Liaison Office

Some of the president’s first interactions with ordinary Hongkongers on his visit to the city in June last year came during a tour of the JPC’s new training camp in Pat Heung, near the Chinese army’s Shek Kong Barracks, which he also visited.

Back then, Xi gave his young audience similar advice, urging cadets to “eat well and grow up fast” and to “choose the right path to serve society, contribute to Hong Kong and contribute to the motherland”.

He added that the “future of the motherland and Hong Kong rest on the next generation”.

Carrie Lam’s sombre Lunar New Year message to Hongkongers after tragic bus crash

Xi’s message comes amid increasing concern in Hong Kong, particularly among disaffected youngsters, about what they perceive as creeping social and political influence by the mainland in the city’s affairs and freedoms.
The card that the JPC sent to Xi (left) and the president’s letter in reply (right). Photo: Handout

Established by then chief police information officer Andrew Rennie in 1974, the Junior Police Call has more than 180,000 members. Its stated aim is to give discipline, physical and team-building training to young people, to enhance their crime prevention awareness, social responsibility and leadership.

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