Hong Kong extradition bill: Young Post readers share biggest fears for Hong Kong
Carrie Lam’s governance, climate change and academic stress are also among teens’ biggest concerns
Chief Executive Carrie Lam has come under fire for her refusal to withdraw the extradition bill.Young Post readers say the extradition bill is one of the biggest issues facing Hong Kong, and some have lost confidence in the city’s leader, Carrie Lam Yuet-ngor.
In an online survey, Young Post asked secondary and tertiary students what local issues they are most worried about.
Many respondents said they were worried about the fact that the controversial bill had not been completely withdrawn. If passed, the bill would allow fugitives in Hong Kong to be sent to the mainland.
“I’m highly concerned about the passing of the bill because it would mean a violation of Hong Kong’s political independence,” wrote one student, 17, from Sacred Heart Canossian College.
“Even if the bill isn’t passed, the damage has been done,” wrote another, 16-year-old Cyrus Chu Kin-cheung. “Hongkongers’ trust in Hong Kong’s rule of law and freedom of speech have been irreversibly damaged,” the St. Louis School student told Young Post.
He added that Lam – who announced that “the bill is dead” on July 9 – should stop playing with words and retract the bill completely.
Although Lam has pledged to connect with young people, some, like Michael So, 19, are not convinced. The University of Hong Kong student said the government and police force need to take accountability for their recent actions first.
“No pragmatic measures have been implemented to address the people’s concerns, including the abuse of power and the alleged excessive violence used by the force,” he said.
In addition to the bill, respondents expressed concern about a wide range of social issues, from academic stress and poor student mental health, to climate change, a lack of universal suffrage, and the potential introduction of China’s social credit system.
To take the survey, click here.