Engineering a new start for young Hongkongers convicted over 2019 protests
- Hong Kong Institute of Engineers says it wants to promote ‘reconciliation’ and give much-needed professionals a second chance
Hong Kong’s professional body for engineers wants to promote “reconciliation” through a task force set up to help rehabilitate young members convicted for involvement in the 2019 protests.
“From the moment I was arrested, I had already prepared for the worst,” Sing, who declined to disclose details of his case to avoid identification, said.
“I just hadn’t thought it would be so difficult to find a job after I finished serving my sentence.”
He explained he had got to the advanced stages of job interviews after approaches from employment agencies and potential employers in the wake of his release from jail in 2022 – but was rejected after his conviction was revealed.
Sing said he went to Project Change, an NGO set up in 2020 to help young people arrested over the civil disturbances, after he failed to land a job despite six months of effort and secured a new post in weeks with the scheme’s help.