Ex-justice boss urges Hong Kong to give youngsters arrested in 2019 unrest a second chance
We must give them a chance to start fresh once they have learned from their mistakes and accepted legal responsibility, Elsie Leung says
A former justice chief has called on Hongkongers to give young people who were arrested during the 2019 anti-government protests a second chance, saying punishment alone will not change their views on society.
Elsie Leung Oi-sie, as well as businessman Irons Sze Wing-wai, made the appeal on Monday in two separate videos by Project Change, an NGO set up in 2020 to help young offenders.
“Youths are the pillars of our future society. For those who were misled or did not think things through, leading them to commit crimes, once they have learned from their mistakes and accepted the legal responsibility, we must give them a chance and allow them to start fresh,” said Leung, also a former deputy director of the Basic Law Committee.
“If they are devoid of job opportunities, how can they reintegrate into society?”
Leung stressed Beijing officials cared about young people and that city leader John Lee Ka-chiu also said it was society’s responsibility to give offenders the opportunity to reform.
She said punishment alone could not change their views towards society.
“It is our duty to educate them and help them understand their wrongdoings. If they have already received such education, I believe they should be given an opportunity to reintegrate society,” she said.
“Otherwise, if they are not in harmony with society, how can they contribute to it?”
Project Change has helped about 170 young people arrested in the 2019 unrest and had handled dozens of career advice inquiries as of June this year.
In another video, Sze, also local delegate to the Standing Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, called on society to work together to help young offenders.
South China Morning Post (scmp.com)
Ex-justice boss urges Hong Kong to give youngsters arrested in 2019 unrest a second chance