The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government released its first Youth Development Blueprint on Dec 20, aimed at winning the hearts and minds of creative — and also defiant — millennials through being supportive rather than didactic, and also at prospering the dissatisfied Gen Z in the city.
The blueprint proposes over 160 initiatives and actions under four themes: “Exploration”, “Hope”, “Empowerment”, and “Contribution”. As the first and the most comprehensive blueprint tailor-made for “the defiant generation”, it is meant to cultivate the potential of young minds by equipping them with broad views of global perspectives, and to cultivate a strong sense of national identity.
The blueprint is aimed at providing the means to “serve the youth” within a lenient and supportive social environment that nurtures talent and competencies, paves the way for continuous growth, and encourages the ambitious to dream big.
Achieving this goal is not easy, as many young people at different levels of education are confronted with various challenges and hurdles; this was especially so during the worst of the pandemic. Some pupils and undergraduates, for example, suffer from intensive academic pressures and subsequent mental issues. It is often the case in Confucian culture that students have to cope with stressful parental and social expectations. However, the scenario became even worse when the global economy contracted unprecedentedly due to the pandemic, making Hong Kong an even more competitive society.
The blueprint brings young people hope to live a prosperous life in Hong Kong while contributing to the community
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The HKSAR government therefore placed great value in the blueprint on creating an enjoyable learning atmosphere, allowing school students to pursue diverse interests and encouraging schools to adopt multiple teaching and evaluation methods.
The government will strengthen cooperation between different sectors and organizations so that young people can be involved in life-planning activities and programs, both at school and during extracurricular activities.
By promoting vocational and professional education, as well as STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) education, the SAR is fostering a diverse and inclusive education at schools.
In the few years following the first outbreak of COVID-19 in December 2019, the unemployment rate in Hong Kong nearly doubled, increasing from 2.93 percent to 5.32 percent in 2021. The jobless rate of 15- to 24-year-olds in 2019 was 8.54 percent and in 2021 was 14.97 percent, which was much higher than the overall number.
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As the HKSAR integrates with the rest of the nation, the blueprint will facilitate new internships, employment, and entrepreneur opportunities in various fields and industries to enhance the competitiveness of young people and better prepare them with the skills and abilities necessary for the future job market. This is sure to receive a warm welcome among the youth.
The blueprint addresses young people’s awareness of Hong Kong as part of China and nurtures a sense of appreciating the nation’s profound traditions, history, and culture. Cultural exchanges with both the mainland and overseas countries will assist young people in developing a better appreciation of the role the Chinese have played in contributing to the world — culturally, economically, and technologically. Hence, the blueprint serves to strengthen their sense of national identity and national pride.
The blueprint endeavors to groom younger generations as the future of Hong Kong. Apart from improving educational and cultural communication, it highlights the housing needs of young people and promises the launch of the Youth Hostel Scheme and the relaunch of the Starter Homes Project for Hong Kong Residents to ensure there is a housing supply for young people.
It also aims to enhance positive thinking and resilience among youth by supporting eligible NGOs to organize activities, and by building a new youth network and launching a mental health support scheme.
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President Xi Jinping stressed during his inspection tour of Hong Kong, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the city’s return to the motherland: “Hong Kong will prosper only when its young people thrive; Hong Kong will develop only when its young people achieve well-rounded development; and Hong Kong will have a bright future only when its young people have good career prospects.”
The blueprint brings young people hope to live a prosperous life in Hong Kong while contributing to the community. It brings the country hope to nurture devoted and well-rounded citizens while developing a promising society.
Edmond Sy is vice-chairman of the Hong Kong CPPCC Youth Association.