Author: change

Chances should be given to youngsters who have taken legal responsibility for their actions during social unrest, said former Secretary for Justice Elsie Leung Oi-sie.

“Youths are the pillars of our future society,” Leung said in a video produced by Project Change, a non-governmental organization established in 2020 to provide support to youths arrested during the Hong Kong protests in 2019.

“For those who were misled or acted without fully considering the consequences, we must offer them a chance to start anew once they have learned from their mistakes and accepted their legal responsibilities,” she said.

Leung said the central government values young people, viewing them as vital to the future development of society. 

“The chief executive of the HKSAR has also affirmed that individuals who have committed crimes should be given an opportunity for rehabilitation,” she added.

Leung argued that mere punishment will not alter their perspectives on society and noted the importance of education in helping young people recognize their wrongdoings. 

“If they’ve already received such education, they should be allowed to reintegrate into society,” she said, warning that failing to do so may lead them to remain defiant, resentful and unable to contribute positively.

In a separate video released by the NGO, businessman Irons Sze Wing-wai expressed hope that the community would support and accept these young individuals who have erred.

“Many of these young people are university students with professional aspirations… We often hear that our society is lacking in manpower and talent, and this group can reintegrate into the community and rejoin the workforce,” Sze said.

He also acknowledged the political divisions that have persisted since the Occupy Central movement in 2014 through the 2019 social unrest, but noted that society has stabilized following the implementation of the national security law in 2020. 

The Standard
Young offenders ‘should be given another chance’

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