Young people are key to a better Hong Kong

Implementation of “one country, two systems” has achieved enormous success, which marks the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland as an imperative milestone. The youth are the hope of making the special administrative region a better place. President Xi Jinping pinned his hopes on the young generation here: “When the young people thrive, Hong Kong thrives; when the young people grow, Hong Kong grows.” Xi’s words went viral and made headlines in newspapers the next day, indicating the youth issues in the city are getting the attention of the public.

It has been a consensus among the patriots in the SAR that the city should hold fast to the “one country, two systems” framework to ensure the sustainable prosperity that our city can continue to flourish against all odds for generations to come. The youth are expected to play a leading role, and they deserve joint support of various sectors in the community with care and patience.

The youth in Hong Kong should be edified properly on the truth and facts of “one country, two systems”. That said, the importance of studying the Basic Law cannot be overstressed in the special administrative region.

As President Xi stated, “Right from the moment Hong Kong returns to China, compatriots of Hong Kong become masters of their own home affairs. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is being administered by Hong Kong citizens with a high degree of autonomy, and that is the beginning of true democracy in Hong Kong.” 

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The young people in our city should be informed with the solid fact that the British rule disguised its totalitarian nature with the camouflage of democracy, albeit much-limited practices in the community level, with no intention of allowing Hong Kong people to administer their local affairs. 

Upholding patriotism and national pride in the youth is our upmost priority. Museums, especially the Hong Kong Palace Museum, are a good way to nurture the students with the splendors and grandeur of Chinese civilization, and thus the rich cultural heritage can be appreciated and inherited by teens and young adult

It was in 1997, when China resumed sovereignty of Hong Kong, that the newly established SAR initiated democratization step-by-step in accordance with the Article 45 of the Basic Law.

As far as education is concerned, secondary school students are the key — they should be well informed with the appropriate interpretations, as well as the accurate facts, rather than myths propagated by the hostile West, of the “one country, two systems” framework. 

Now, the course Citizenship and Social Development is listed as mandatory at school, and the purpose of this new subject is to allow juveniles to gain a thorough understanding of history of Hong Kong, as well as its interaction and relationship with the motherland. 

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Educating the future citizens well at an early age has been considered one of the most effective ways to nurture patriotism and to promote social awareness of the legal status of the SAR as an inseparable part of China. The government of Hong Kong should also consider training schoolteachers to enhance the overall qualifications of the teaching staff.

Promoting youth in Hong Kong requires thinking outside the box. From law-making to policy-researching, youth issues should be at the top of the agenda, and satisfying their needs should be political targets. 

The government of Hong Kong should stand up to the responsibility to pave the way for the future through addressing youngsters’ concerns on schooling, housing, careers, and fostering the spirit of entrepreneurism. 

For instance, it should be taken into consideration to grant additional funds to the grassroots families for equal education opportunities and to accelerate the Youth Hostel Scheme for relieving newlywed couples’ urgent needs for housing. Proactive approaches, such as the ambitious Northern Metropolis Development Strategy, should be introduced for our young people gaining a better life.

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Rapid development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area creates limitless opportunities for youngsters to shine and grow. Positive publicity of the GBA is needed to draw the awareness of our youth on the chances that lie ahead, and motivate them to study, work and reside in the GBA, as well as other cities of in the north.

Upholding patriotism and national pride in the youth is our upmost priority. Museums, especially the Hong Kong Palace Museum, are a good way to nurture the students with the splendors and grandeur of Chinese civilization, and thus the rich cultural heritage can be appreciated and inherited by teens and young adults. 

The Hong Kong Palace Museum is deemed as an invaluable treasure bestowed by the motherland. Cultural identity of being a Chinese positions the citizens of Hong Kong in the best place to tap the invaluable cultural resources passed down from our forefathers, which, in turn, turns out to be the source of patriotism.

With the patriotism in mind, the youth in Hong Kong can not only make a difference in the city, but also should play their role in the promising land of the GBA; as more and more brilliant young talents in the city are involved in the nation’s development, Hong Kong, with the successful practice of “one country, two systems”, will fulfill Xi’s expectations for Hong Kong to “share the glory of the Chinese nation’s rejuvenation together with people in the rest of the country”.

The author is deputy director of Hong Kong CPPCC Youth Association.