Asked about jailing of protesters, chief secretary vows to improve communication with city’s youth
Speaking on radio show, Matthew Cheung Kin-chung discusses expectations for administration, including express rail link opening and economic development
Hong Kong’s No 2 official has vowed to improve communication with the city’s youth and give them hope on education, employment and housing policies, even as critics raise concerns that youngsters with “aspirations” for society would be deterred by a recent court ruling sending several protesters to jail.
Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung Kin-chung’s remarks came after a court ruling on Tuesday in which 13 pro-democracy protesters convicted of unlawful assembly had their original community service sentences changed to jail terms of between eight and 13 months after prosecutors successfully appealed for heavier penalties.
The activists were part of a wider group who in 2014 stormed the Legislative Council over a controversial government development project. Their supporters said that in giving the harsher sentence, the court was deterring “youngsters who have expectations and aspirations for society”.
Asked how officials would carry on with youth policy in the aftermath of the case, Cheung said “good communication” was needed, without mentioning the court’s ruling.
Why were 13 Hong Kong protesters jailed, and what does this mean for future demonstrations?
“We need more understanding, listening, collaboration and response – it’s not just PR or superficial work … We need to show them hope for their studies, employment, home-ownership and entrepreneurship,” he explained.
Speaking on a Metro Radio programme, the chief secretary touched on a range of topics, noting that economic development and cross-border transport infrastructure projects were the “highlights” of the current administration, which had “enjoyed a smooth start” since its swearing-in on July 1.
