1388
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL-11 May 1988
The report reflects that the authorities worry about whether a comprehensive youth policy will be treated as a means to restrict social development. Therefore, it opts for the present recommendation. Generally speaking, whether the Government has a definite policy on a certain issue or not and what are included and what are omitted in the policy, that, in itself, is already a means of restriction on social development. From this point of view, the recommended youth policy with a comprehensive set of principles for youth development is, in fact, another means of restriction on social development. Actually it is not different from a comprehensive youth policy materially. In my opinion, any type of policy has an implication of restriction on social development and that cannot be used as a guideline for selection of a proper policy.
Moreover, the report also reflects public concerns that such a policy will bring about a central authority to take charge of the youth matters, which would imply introducing a substantial restriction on social development; hence the present recommendation is suggested. However, I think that from a practical point of view, a more comprehensive and concrete youth policy may not necessarily bring about a central authority to impose restriction on social development on young people. In fact, there is no need for us to have a central authority to take care of all youth matters. In actual fact, whether a policy is comprehensive or not, has no direct bearing on the structure and functioning of the operational authority.
In general, I agree that we should have a set of new policies to define various development directions for our youth. However, I look forward to a youth policy which is more comprehensive and detailed than the present recommended one. The youth policy should contain concrete proposals of how to reach the relevant objectives. I agree with the committee that we should retain the present operational structure, but at the same time, there should be a standing committee to take charge of all youth matters and to make recommendations to the Government.
Finally, I want to point out that the present recommendation has apparently listed out a whole set of principles for youth development. Nevertheless, there are obvious shortcomings. According to the report's analysis on the trend of social development, Hong Kong will become a Special Administrative Region of China with a high degree of autonomy in 1997. Our young people will inevitably be affected by this change. The report also points out that the people of Hong Kong will become increasingly involved in the administration of the territory. This is something that their predecessors are not expected to do at the same stage of life. The report has clearly recognised that the trend of social development is a challenge to our young people, but I would like to query why the proposed new policy basically can only touch upon the challenge brought about by the trend of social development, but provide no mentions as to how to help the young people accept the future identity of being Chinese nationals when China resumes sovereignty over Hong Kong. I also want to ask while we can encourage young people to take part in community affairs and provide them