Hong Kong protests: young people jailed over unrest should be allowed to contribute to society on release, rehabilitation group says
- Protesters jailed over 2019 anti-government protests should be used to help beat brain drain and be given more support to continue education behind bars, group says
- Project Change appeals to professional bodies to relax rules on members and applicants who had fallen foul of the law
Protesters jailed over Hong Kong’s anti-government demonstrations in 2019 should be viewed as assets to help halt the brain drain and be given support to rehabilitate them, a group set up to assist them has said.
Project Change, a programme established up by a group of 16 academics and professionals, suggested on Monday the Correctional Services Department expand resources for jailed protesters who were keen to continue with their studies.
The group, speaking in advance of Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s first policy address, highlighted that some of those incarcerated might not have resorted to violence at protests.
“If you want to change the game, you have to heal the wound,” said Sung Yun-wing, treasurer of the group.
Without such a mindset, “you can’t tell a good Hong Kong story,” he added, borrowing a slogan used by the government in a bid to revitalise the city in the wake of the impact of Covid-19 and the 2019 anti-government protests.