‘Just window dressing’ – poll finds most young people in Hong Kong would shun seat on official advisory committees
- Almost three-quarters of respondents would steer clear of scheme aimed at encouraging residents under age of 35 to take up roles
- Despite city leader setting goal of 15pc participation by mid-2022, rate hovers at 11.6pc, with many harbouring doubts over groups’ effectiveness
Most Hong Kong young people view their peers sitting on government advisory committees as mere political window dressing, according to a survey released on Sunday.
The poll also found almost three-quarters of respondents would shun the government scheme that allows young people to nominate themselves as members for certain committees. Most expressed concern over whether they were capable of playing a meaningful role, while others said they had no interest or did not believe the groups were effective.
The poll comes at a time of widespread dissatisfaction among the city’s young people, over issues ranging from employment to political deadlock and soaring property prices.
Youth IDEAS, a research centre under the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, interviewed 524 people aged from 18 to 35 between July 4-8 on their views over how to improve the advisory committee system to encourage more young people to join.
Established in 1960, the federation is the city’s largest youth service organisation, funded mostly by government subsidies, as well as grants from charities and private and corporate donations.
The survey found 57 per cent of respondents “very much agree” or “fairly agree” that young people on the committees served only as a “political flower vase”, or members who were given the job merely for the sake of appearances and lacking any true influence. Only 38.7 per cent indicated they trusted the government.