Opinion | Hong Kong’s new lawmakers must reach out to the city’s youth and foreign businesses

In my recent unsuccessful campaign for election to the Legislative Council, I recommended that the new members reach out to two groups of Hong Kong residents: young people and the international business community. Even though I will not be able to participate, I still think these exercises are worth undertaking.

Far too many of our young people are disillusioned. They see no future for themselves, are distrustful of the government, and would prefer to “lie flat” rather than look for opportunities to improve their living.

The most serious schism is in the political arena. Partly because of mistakes by the present administration, and partly because some elements of the opposition took a violent turn, Beijing has felt obliged to intervene directly with two major pieces of legislation. The introduction of the national security law has had a sobering effect and created uncertainties.

Meanwhile, sweeping changes to election arrangements have taken us further away from, rather than closer to, universal suffrage for the chief executive and Legislative Council elections.

In the background, of course, has been a virulent anti-China sentiment both internationally and locally. Those seeking to halt China’s rise have used Hong Kong as a convenient stick with which to beat Beijing. Localists have tried to deny that Hong Kong is an inalienable part of the nation.