Govt Must Work Harder On Youth Education, Says CE

The government has to work harder on educating Hong Kong’s youth, Chief Executive Carrie Lam said on Sunday, adding that she was aware of public concern that some young people have been incited to oppose the central authorities and lack national identity.

Speaking at a consultation session for her Policy Address next month, Lam said there’s a need for everyone to return to the origins of the One Country, Two Systems principle.

"We have to emphasise that one country is our basis – that one country comes first,” the Hong Kong leader said.

“But at the same time, [one] shouldn't go to an extreme, and forget that Hong Kong has its own system… our advantages stem from Hong Kong keeping its own system within the country.”

Lam said more work needs to go into youth education, so that young people can have a better grasp of social and national concepts and values.

The chief executive was also asked about people emigrating from Hong Kong, after her comments on Friday that she had heard stories about some Hong Kong people feeling miserable and having difficulty adapting to their news homes after leaving.

An attendee at the consultation session asked Lam not to laugh at those who had left. He asked whether Lam could come up with policies to encourage people to stay and help build Hong Kong.

In response, Lam said she has no views on those departing, insisting that Hong Kong has always been a migrant city and it's only natural for people to come and go.

She said the government’s biggest responsibility is to paint a picture of the SAR’s future that people can be confident about, and hopes this will be displayed in her upcoming policy blueprint.

"One of the answers to this question, for sure, is [Hong Kong's] integration with the country's overall development. This is nothing new. Hong Kong hasn't been separate from the country's development for decades," Lam said.

The chief executive said the government will work harder to attract talent from the mainland and overseas, noting that it will soon announce a policy package with their Shenzhen counterparts on how to attract talent for the development of an innovation centre.