Letters | What the future of Hong Kong education should look like

Readers discuss the state of education in Hong Kong, the new Legislative Council, and the benefits of making Soho a pedestrian area

Education in Hong Kong

Letters

Published: 7:00am, 10 Jan 2022

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As 2022 dawns, it is a good time for us to envision the future of Hong Kong, which should tie in with the future of education.

It is worrying that a large number of students and their families have decided to leave this city for good. As Hong Kong does not have an abundance of natural resources, the supply of talent forms the cornerstone of our economic and social prosperity. It is vital that schools play their part.

In 2016, the World Economic Forum pointed out in its “The Future of Jobs” report that the world will become increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence and smart technology. To prepare our students for the unknown, schools should attach importance to the development of adaptability and resilience in the design of learning experiences.

This way students will be brave enough to embrace challenges and face adversity. Most importantly, educational activities should aim to arouse children’s creativity and imagination so the next generation will not easily lose interest in the world.

While education should be forward-looking, its future should never be yoked to the pace of technological advancement. At the heart of education is the education of the heart. In spite of many potential changes, what remains constant are our values and belief systems.

We celebrate the emergence of cutting-edge technologies, but the misuse of digital power can deal a blow to humanity. Students should learn to make moral judgments through experiential learning, not textbook chapters.

Hong Kong was not built in a day. Its success can be attributed to our appreciation of the well-established Chinese civilisation and the fostering of a pluralistic and multicultural society. Schools should bring the best of both worlds to students through enriching their understanding of our traditions, and the history of ideas and cultural heritage, and by helping them develop a global vision on a wide range of issues, including environmental protection, public health and social trends.

For anyone who loves this place, it is time to think about its future.

John Ng, Lai Chi Kok

Legco can finally focus on livelihood issues

The Legislative Council election was held last month and 90 members, including myself, were sworn in.

A few things are worth noting. First, the election was smoothly and safely carried out. The district council elections in 2019 were held at a time when the city was in the throes of violence and chaos. Candidates were threatened and the offices of pro-establishment candidates vandalised. On polling day, the elderly found themselves stuck in long queues, and their requests to be allowed in first to vote were turned down.

The opposition camp won a landslide victory back then. But how well did they serve their constituents? Livelihood issues did not seem to be their focus.

In stark contrast, the Legislative Council election was safe and orderly, with 1.35 million people turning out to cast their votes. Let’s bear in mind that this is a new electoral system, and it usually takes time for people to get used to changes.

The result is that patriotic and high-calibre lawmakers have been elected. We can finally focus on livelihood issues instead of political struggle.

I trust that in the new Legco, with members from a wide range of backgrounds – grass-roots communities, the business sector, professionals and scholars – these members don’t see eye to eye on various livelihood issues, but unlike in the past, we will be able to reach a consensus, move forward and offer constructive advice to the administration in the course of formulating policies. This is what Legco ought to be.

Perhaps Western governments repeatedly smeared our election system simply because they never want to see good governance in Hong Kong with the support of the central government. Otherwise, how would they be able to discredit China?

As the white paper released by the central government pointed out, we must insist on charting our own course and develop our own political system which suits Hong Kong in the course of developing our democracy.

Holden Chow, Legco member and DAB vice-chairman

Soho without traffic would be safer and livelier

What a pleasure it would be to walk peacefully around Soho, with its restaurants, bars and shops at street level, if there were no cars, trucks or traffic noise. Nowadays, it’s tough for even two pedestrians to walk side by side on the narrow pavements, not to mention walking with a baby in a stroller.

Governments around the world are striving to make citizens’ lives more comfortable, less polluted and noisy. Reducing vehicular traffic is one of the ways this is being done.

My close friend died after she was hit by a car which hurtled downhill on Peel Street. It only halted because it hit a barrier, or else more people might have been injured. Business owners and managers in Soho have told me this is not the first accident in the area.

We all know Lan Kwai Fong is more peaceful and lively during the evening without traffic. Why not implement the same rules in Soho? I am sure every restaurant and bar would also appreciate this new environment, which would boost their economic growth. Why not try banning vehicles for a few hours on Friday and Saturday evenings?

We hope our friend didn’t leave our world without inspiring an improvement in the city she loved so much. Making Soho safer would be the best way we could memorialise her.

Sébastien Dauriac, Sheung Wan

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