The Youth Development Blueprint released by the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau on Dec 20, which consists of more than 160 initiatives aimed at promoting academic learning, employment, home ownership, and entrepreneurship among the youth, is a manifestation of the people-oriented governing principle.
Residents from different age groups in Hong Kong are experiencing a wide range of issues that require policy initiatives to clear up. Youth problems are particularly relevant, not least because the future of Hong Kong hinges on the youth.
The general public have been excited to see the blueprint. Nonetheless, some critics have said it includes no mention of ways to address the social polarization and divide induced by intense political confrontation over recent years, and that no innovative initiatives other than the commonly known ones have been proposed. Although it is not fair to label the blueprint uninspiring, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government should take heed of that “honest but unpleasant advice” if it aspires to improve the wellbeing of society.
On account of these criticisms, I believe the government’s youth development work should place great emphasis on igniting the passions of youth to pursue their dreams and ideals, and on helping them to maintain their faith in, and to visualize, their future success.
In addressing youth issues in the short- to longer-term, the HKSAR government should pay attention to three perspectives.
First, while there is a need to promote the correct notions of “one country, two systems” among youngsters, it is unrealistic to expect that a campaign can magically reverse all their misconceptions in a short time. For those who were misled into siding with the black-clad mobs in 2019, ideological guidance should be provided to align them with the patriotic mainstream.
The judiciary can consider absolving minor offenses committed by youngsters who have come to realize their culpability. Authorities should enlist the support of the patriotic camp to review the profile of each youngster and help them resume their studies or career paths. As a de facto amnesty will inevitably be perceived as “condoning transgressions”, it must come with the justification that Hong Kong is a caring society that gives a second chance to those who choose to return to the right path.
Second, while the emphasis on collaboration between policy bureaus and government departments in implementing the blueprint is the right move to address the inadequacies of previous administrations in policy execution, coordinated action should not be merely regarded as a series of initiatives designed to help the youth, but should adhere to the general principle of empowering them to become the driving force and vanguard to build a better Hong Kong.
Thus far, youth issues have been treated separately from problems affecting the middle-aged and the elderly. This has to change to encompass cross-generational issues that have implications for youth development. Therefore, the blueprint can center on academic learning, employment, home ownership and entrepreneurship of the youth, but it should include policy vision on areas such as how the youth can take care of the elderly and support their middle-aged family members. The same principle can also be applied when it comes to addressing problems unique to middle-aged groups or the elderly.
Only by tackling youth issues in conjunction with those affecting the older generations can the government empower young people to become the driving force and vanguard to build a better Hong Kong. The sense of empowerment will in turn lead young people to the realization that dreams and ideals are within their reach, helping them keep their feet on the ground while reaching new heights.
Third, youth affairs are part of the development of Hong Kong, which is also part of national development as the city integrates with the Chinese mainland. It is important to keep this in mind or else policymaking will conveniently lead young people to pursue only their personal or familial dreams with no regard for overall social wellbeing.
As the paradigm shift in the global power balance gathers momentum, the world is entering a new year in which it must choose between war and peace. Not long ago, former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger called for a truce between Russia and Ukraine or else the world could be dragged into major warfare. He made suggestions to both sides in the hope of brokering peace talks. His proposal was nonetheless rejected by Ukraine. As it turns out, a ceasefire is hardly in sight. Worse, the war could escalate as predicted by some observers, and humanity has never been nearer to nuclear annihilation since the end of World War II.
The Youth Blueprint Development, therefore, should put the said paradigm shift into perspective, and the 160-plus initiatives should closely align with the goal of facilitating Hong Kong’s integration into national development. As the world braces for more headwinds and choppy waters ahead, the role of young people as the driving force and vanguard to build a brighter future for Hong Kong will become all the more prominent.
The author is a senior research fellow of China Everbright Holdings.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.