TNAG-1734-FCO40-2447-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 328

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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 11 May 1988

moving, the question is how are we going to implement changes to bring improvement to our society. The report points out that according to the findings of the two surveys, young people aspire for education opportunities and Hong Kong needs to enhance social awareness and political participation among young people. To improve our society, we must therefore start with education. We should provide our young people with an education that can develop their personal abilities as well as foster their sense of civic responsibility. To promote a system of education that instils social awareness does not mean to drive our young people to stage demonstrations, to put up posters, to seize and occupy public premises and to stir up chaos and uprisings. It should be an education which aims at making the students realise what problems are confronting our society, cultivating among them a responsible attitude of dealing with these social problems and promoting in them the sympathy in seeking solutions to these problems. It is also an education which enables the students to be aware of their responsibility and the pressing need of the time and have the determination and ability of getting these problems solved. We should understand that self interests are closely related to the interests of the society at large. Thus, we should develop in our young people a strong sense of fair-mindedness, as opposed to all forms of discrimination and favouritism. Such an attitude should be adopted by the whole society and cultivated among the students. Our young people should be encouraged to overcome problems or difficulties in our society or the world, and to actively take up the responsibility in finding solutions to these problems.

Sir, to tackle this problem, it requires not only knowledge and understanding, but also the drive and ability to co-operate with others, organisational ability and leadership. It is essential to promote the development of such abilities and qualities through our education system. In carrying out a successful social education programme, the society itself should take upon certain responsibilities. The voluntary organisations which provide youth services should try their best to instil into the young people the right moral concepts of our community and enlighten their civic awareness through field work and personal participation, so that the young people may, through such actual experience, understand the basis of social order and have a better understanding of the qualities of a good citizen, such as being helpful, co-operative, sympathic and having concern for others. The upbringing of the young people today is a crucial factor in determining the success of the future administration of Hong Kong. Today's young people will be the future leaders of Hong Kong. They should have broad knowledge and wide perspectives, be able to speak and act boldly and have good judgement. Only when members of the community are clear-minded, have good ability to distinguish right from wrong and have a high level of civic consciousness can we place hope on the future government of Hong Kong for ensuring democracy in its real sense for the people of Hong Kong.

Sir, with these remarks, I support the motion.

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