Hongkongers should be allowed to serve in People’s Liberation Army voluntarily, pro-Beijing party survey finds
Proposal would help young people improve sense of national identity, DAB says, citing opinion poll
The city’s largest pro-Beijing political party on Wednesday proposed Hongkongers be allowed to serve voluntarily in the Chinese army, as a survey revealed more than half would be willing to do so.
From June 27 to July 3, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong did phone interviews with 713 residents, aged 12 or above, selected via random sampling.
Among respondents aged 12 to 39, who accounted for 38 per cent of those polled, 48 per cent said they agreed Hong Kong people should be allowed to take up military service on a voluntary basis.
The DAB, which has 13 lawmakers and is the most influential party in Hong Kong’s 68-member legislature, also said more activities should be organised by local and mainland Chinese authorities to help locals better understand China – its national defence and foreign affairs in particular.
“Many young people hope voluntary military service can become possible. We hope the government can think about it,” DAB vice-chairman Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan, a lawmaker, said.
Cheung said he believed Hong Kong people’s sense of national identity would improve if they were allowed to serve or take part in activities organised by the Chinese army’s local garrison.