Letters | Inspire Hong Kong’s young people to dream by just giving them a chance

Readers discuss the best ways to support young people, how Hong Kong should use its tourism dollars, and the importance of gender diversity and expression in sports

Hong Kong youth

Letters

Published: 11:30am, 16 May 2024

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Last month, the findings of a survey showed that as many as 80 per cent of Hong Kong secondary students were unsure about their future.

The survey, conducted by researchers at Hong Kong Shue Yan University’s Department of Sociology, highlights a worrying trend among the youth in Hong Kong. As the chair of the Child Development Initiative Alliance, a non-governmental organisation dedicated to helping young people identify their career aspirations and life paths, I find these findings particularly alarming, especially in light of the current talent shortages across various business sectors.

The sense of confusion and despair is more acute among young people from working families who often lack social capital to shape their desired futures. Many resign themselves to a fate of unhappiness and relentless toil, while only a few manage to break through these barriers.

Nurturing career-related competency can significantly boost young people’s self-confidence and optimism about their future. This, in turn, enhances their chances of success in pursuing their life goals.

The rapid changes in today’s world mean that the experiences of older generations may not be directly applicable to the youth. For instance, what was once a leisure activity –digital games – has now become a part of a lucrative career in e-sports. Other emerging fields like artificial intelligence, intellectual property management and pet-sitting also require us to adopt a more open and respectful approach when guiding the youth.

Over the years, I have seen many young individuals gain clarity about their career path through transformative work experience placements. These experiences, through short-term internships, have proven invaluable for young people stepping into society or pursuing higher education.

I commend the government’s proactive stance on youth development, particularly through initiatives like the Strive and Rise Programme, which offers internship opportunities to young people. I urge the government to further its efforts by integrating these programmes into the school curriculum to ensure that every student is well-prepared for their future.

I firmly believe that everyone is born with useful talents and, with the right guidance and opportunities, young people can significantly contribute to the future of our city.

Amy Chan, chair, Child Development Initiative Alliance

Tourism dollars are good, so are consumption vouchers

Thanks to the Chinese central government’s support for Hong Kong, eight more mainland cities have been added to the Individual Visit Scheme, allowing more mainland residents to visit Hong Kong without joining a group tour. We can expect more mainland tourists to come, bringing benefit to tourism-related commerce in the city.

However, at the moment, many shops and restaurants that rely on local business are suffering from reduced spending by Hongkongers, many of whom are flocking to Shenzhen to shop and eat.

There seems to be a mismatch here, as bringing more visitors to Hong Kong may not bring relief to the shops that rely on local business – not directly anyway. While traditional trickle-down theory suggests that lifting up the business sector as a whole will be good for all, the government should not wait for the benefits to trickle down. Instead, it should proactively redistribute tourist dollars.

Handing out another round of consumption vouchers will be a good way to get Hongkongers shopping locally again. That way, benefits from the tourist dollar bump can be shared more equally.

Angus SK Chan, Ma On Shan

Anti-LGBTQ bigotry is holding back sports in Hong Kong

I refer to the letter, “Hong Kong Football Club should lead on diversity” (May 11).

Your correspondent is battling two fronts in his desire to see gender diversity in sports. Duncan Chiu Tat-kun, chairman of the Squash Association of Hong Kong, was one of the anti-LGBTQ lawmakers who called for the Gay Games to be banned, and who supported Junius Ho Kwan-yiu’s statement that they, “object to any Western ideology that sugar-coated its agenda in the name of diversity and inclusivity for a sports event, attempting to subvert national security”.

For as long as such bigotry is with us, Hong Kong will continue to fall further behind and the opportunity for growth of aspiring athletes and others will remain compromised.

Mark Peaker, The Peak

Allow athletes to express themselves without judgment

I am writing to express my support for Wu Yanni, the Chinese athlete who was criticised for wearing makeup at the women’s 100m hurdles race at the Diamond League competition in Xiamen last month (“Wu Yanni: glamour girl China champion hurdler with tattoo, makeup and attitude set to shine at Paris Olympics 2024”, May 6).

As a supporter of individual expression and personal empowerment, I believe it is important to respect Wu’s choice to present herself in a way that makes her feel confident and beautiful.

It is disheartening to see the backlash she faced. Some said athletes should focus solely on their performance rather than their appearance. However, athletes too are multifaceted individuals who should be allowed to express themselves both on and off the field. Wu’s decision to wear makeup does not diminish her dedication, skills or commitment to her sport.

I applaud Wu for saying she wanted to look her best out of respect for the spectators and her fans. It shows her understanding of the importance of creating a positive and visually engaging experience for spectators. By taking pride in her appearance, Wu is contributing to the overall enjoyment of the event and inspiring others to embrace their own unique identities.

As a society, we should move beyond rigid expectations and stereotypes. Wu’s rebellious streak, combined with her talent and achievements, should be celebrated rather than criticised.

Melody Chan, Kwai Chung