CPPCC members: Rebuild identity recognition in HK youth
- By Zhang Rui
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E-mail China.org.cn, March 4, 2016
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Dr. Diana Fung, a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), speaks to China.org.cn in Beijing on March 3, 2016 when the annual session opens. [China.org.cn] |
![Dr. Diana Fung, a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), speaks to China.org.cn in Beijing on March 3, 2016 when the annual session opens. [China.org.cn]](http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20160304/001aa0ba3c6a18433e3a10.jpg "Dr. Diana Fung, a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), speaks to China.org.cn in Beijing on March 3, 2016 when the annual session opens. [China.org.cn]")
Two members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) from Hong Kong told China.org.cn that there is more work to do to help Hong Kong's young people recognize their Chinese blood.
Dr. Diana Fung said it was painful to watch Hong Kong's Mong Kok riot during the Lunar New Year holidays and learn of the idea of the so-called "Hong Kong independence" shared among some of the young people.
"I think we have much to do to educate young people and let them know who their ancestors were and where they're actually from."
Fung believes it is because of more-than-a-century of British colonization in Hong Kong that some Hong Kong people embraced Western culture and forgot their Chinese veins, losing their sense of many things in Chinese traditional culture. "If you think about it more deeply, it is a very serious and dangerous issue."
About 300 people participated in the riot in the early hours on Feb. 9 at Mong Kok, one of Hong Kong's busiest shopping areas, following official attempts to remove illegal hawkers from the busy commercial neighborhood. The rioters attacked police officers and journalists, smashed police vehicles and committed arson. Nearly 90 police officers as well as four journalists were injured during the riot.
The CPPCC member said she also hoped for more legislation and powerful law enforcement regarding illegal behavior.
"We have stressed too much the two systems aspect of the 'One Country, Two Systems' principle before, and neglected the 'one country' aspect. I hope when the laws are applicable, we should punish those who are responsible for crimes, not just let them go or receive minor punishments for them to consider possible political backlash. Otherwise, there will be more like-minded people who stand out and challenge the laws."
However, she admitted there are difficulties, as Hong Kong inherited British law for a century, and most people in the legal and justice systems are still following those codes, especially in the evaluation of handing down sentences. "But Hong Kong should be a place for the rule of law and should punish the law breakers effectively."
Fung said that work needs to be done to rebuild the connection between the mainland and Hong Kong by strengthening history education and boosting Chinese traditional culture as well as having more youth communication and exchanges activities.
"We have so much to do to fix the problem," she said.
Timothy Fok Tsun-ting, another CPPCC member and a Member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, echoed Fung's opinion, saying, "My heart hurt when I heard of the Mong Kok riot, so did overseas Chinese."
"Rule of law is a very valuable treasure in Hong Kong, we have to maintain it and we cannot accept this kind of violence to happen," Fok said. "Hong Kong has become what it is today with the help of the whole nation. But some individuals' behavior will not affect Hong Kong's feeling toward the mainland."
He also said there should be more to do in strengthening exchange and communication between the mainland and Hong Kong, especially among youth.
"Many of Hong Kong's young people haven't had many chances to understand and get in touch with the mainland. The youth are our future. Exchange can be done in different levels such as in the government, in the civil sector, and in various aspects such as movies and sports."
The National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body, opened its annual meeting in Beijing on March 3. More than 2,000 members of the advisory body are slated to discuss major political, economic and social issues during this year's session that will run till March 14.
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