Letters | 25th handover bash: A chance for Beijing to engage Hong Kong’s youth, tomorrow’s leaders

Beijing could offer internships and jobs at its offices in Hong Kong to give a taste of how the central government works, which will help reduce suspicion and forge understanding

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China’s national and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region flags hung up around East Tsim Sha Tsui to celebrate the 24th anniversary of the handover on July 1, 2021. Photo: May Tse

Published: 2:30pm, 26 Mar 2022

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Upon the closing of China’s “two sessions” annual parliamentary meetings earlier this month, the nation’s core leadership will be preparing for the transition to the next batch of younger cadres and revitalising the post-coronavirus economy. Meanwhile, Hong Kong will celebrate the 25th anniversary this year of the establishment of the special administrative region, though it is battling its worst outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

There is a role here for the central authorities to engage youth in Hong Kong.

The 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese sovereignty would be the perfect occasion for Hong Kong to conduct a thorough midterm evaluation of “one country, two systems”. For the past 25 years, Hong Kong has lived through all sorts of highs and lows, particularly with respect to political development and democratisation. However, I am confident that one country, two systems would be upheld.

Delivering his work report at the two sessions, Premier Li Keqiang said maintaining prosperity and stability continues to be the central government’s policy towards Hong Kong. Yet, the gap between the expectations of the central government and those of the Hong Kong people remains significant.

If Beijing wishes to better integrate Hong Kong into the national development strategy, the central government should reach out more actively to Hong Kong’s youth, who will one day be in charge of the city’s destiny. One way is to give youngsters a taste of how the central government works by launching internships and jobs for Hong Kong university students and graduate shadowing programmes at central government ministries. The operations of these departments, including the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office and the central government’s liaison office in Hong Kong, are relatively unknown to most Hong Kong people, which in turn fuels suspicion and conspiracy theories about Beijing.