Carrie Lam wants Hong Kong youth to join the policymaking club, but can they impress the insiders?

Alice Wu says the chief executive has her heart in the right place on greater youth representation in advisory bodies, but warns that navigating the dominant power dynamics would bring its own risks and challenges for the 11 young people who make the cut

Reading Time:3 minutes

Chief Executive Carrie Lam arrives for a discussion with students about policy address initiatives, at the Federation of Youth Groups Jockey Club Media 21 venue in Aberdeen, on October 16. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 11:00am, 5 Nov 2017Updated: 7:03pm, 5 Nov 2017

Young Hongkongers aged 18 to 35, who see themselves as committed to serving the community, with a good grasp of policy issues and good analytical and communication skills, are invited to recommend themselves for consideration by a nine-member government recruitment committee, which will judge whether the applicants’ self-assessment of their commitment and skills is good enough for them to be members of five government advisory committees.

If this sounds like an inviting idea to you, I congratulate you for being gifted with an impenetrable sense of self-worth.

Working to encourage civic participation, and public and community service, is a worthwhile aim. To want to include young people or other under-represented demographics is honourable and smart. If the government wishes for society to be inclusive, taking the lead is the very crucial first step.

Widening the perspectives and backgrounds pool leads to a variety of ideas and approaches. It builds acceptance of differences and attracts talented people to join decision- and policymakers.

Biggest challenge is to connect with young: Carrie Lam

The chief executive has made diversity recruitment deliberate, having pledged to increase youth representation in advisory committees to 15 per cent in her policy address. So far so good: the heart is in the right place.

Carrie Lam wants Hong Kong youth to join the policymaking club, but can they impress the insiders?

Alice Wu says the chief executive has her heart in the right place on greater youth representation in advisory bodies, but warns that navigating the dominant power dynamics would bring its own risks and challenges for the 11 young people who make the cut

Biggest challenge is to connect with young: Carrie Lam

Key points from Carrie Lam’s first policy address as Hong Kong chief executive