Involve Hong Kong’s young people more in decision making, Executive Council member says
Bernard Chan calls on government to change its top-down approach to canvassing views
Executive Council member Bernard Chan has called on the government to involve young people more in its decision-making process.
In an interview with the Post in Beijing, Chan said the government should change its existing top-down approach to canvassing views among the public, particularly regarding matters relating to young people.
His call came a day after Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, urged Hong Kong’s delegates to the body to engage with young people in the city.
But yesterday in Hong Kong, a former senior mainland envoy, Zhang Junsheng, criticised the city’s young people for a lack of understanding of the Basic Law, the city’s mini-constitution, and for acting “blindly” during the Mong Kok riot.
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Chan said “the government needs to make young people feel they are part of the process, rather than just listening to their views on the proposals put forward by the administration”.
“You need to let young people come up with their own plans and decisions, so they will have a sense of ownership in the public engagement process,” he said.
