The View | How young Hongkongers can serve their country and find meaning in their lives
- Opportunities to participate in global governance and diplomacy will broaden young people’s horizons and deepen their understanding of China and the world
- Hongkongers’ bilingual, bicultural capabilities are unique advantages amid tensions with the West, and international affairs can offer an avenue for meaningful work
A recent article in the Financial Times described how the pandemic is fuelling a desire among young people to give back to their communities, resulting in higher demand for public-sector careers in countries ranging from India to Britain.
Given that the Covid-19 crisis unfolded against a complex and evolving geopolitical backdrop, it appears that there may also be a stronger interest in diplomatic careers, since they offer a way to combine public service with a passion for international affairs.
As an example, Lennart Garritsen, who studied abroad at the University of Hong Kong as an exchange student, went through a highly competitive process to join the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, even though he had to take a pay cut from his previous role at an international law firm. Currently in training at The Hague, Garritsen is keen to revisit Hong Kong as part of an overseas posting.
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But the work of a diplomat goes beyond writing reports on the foreign cities they are stationed in. Key to their role is stakeholder engagement, coordination of official visits and delegations, facilitating people-to-people exchanges, and promotion of trade and investment.
