Hong Kong localism off the agenda for new youth panel
Commission chaired by chief secretary to focus instead on housing, job prospects and education, according to members present at its first meeting
The rise of localism in Hong Kong has been left off the list of priorities for a new high-level body advising the government on youth policies, according to people at its first meeting, held behind closed doors on Tuesday.
The Youth Development Commission, chaired by the government’s No 2 official Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, agreed to set its sights on addressing issues around youth education, career prospects and home ownership. That consensus was said to have been reached after discussion between members during the 2½-hour meeting.
One person present, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the commission’s confidentiality rules, said some members raised the issue of localism, while others wanted more transparency around the commission’s meetings.
“The discussion was free and honest. The topic of localism was briefly touched upon. But the general view among members seemed to be that we should first focus on policies to address difficulties faced by young people on education, jobs and home ownership,” the member said after the meeting.
Another member, Jeremy Young Chit-on, a district councillor for the Liberal Party, said the members had a very “open-minded and positive discussion”. “Almost everyone gave their own views on youth policies and discussed work priorities,” Young said, without going into details.