Category: News

宋陳寶蓮、宋恩榮、麥曉暉、江麗 《信報》 2023年10月16日

行政長官將於下周三（10月25日）發表新一份《施政報告》。「蛻變計劃」一直關注香港年輕人，我們期望特首藉《施政報告》，攜手與社會各界一起，為年輕人燃點希望。

「民智行動設計智庫」於2020年中成立「蛻變計劃」，對2019年反修例事件中的被捕年輕人提供情緒支援及輔導工作，並於2021年中進一步向刑滿出獄的年輕人提供「生涯重塑」服務，幫助他們重返校園、職場。隨着愈來愈多被捕年輕人服刑完畢，預期未來3年有數以百計更生青年重返社會；各方面宜早作準備，協助他們重投社會。

助反修例釋囚重回社會

跟過往青少年犯有別，在2019年社會事件中被捕的年輕人，逾2200人具備專上教育學歷，當中不少是大學生或持有專業資格，包括金融、保險、會計、法律和醫護等。過去一年，「蛻變計劃」接到很多高學歷的年輕人尋求協助，當中包括碩士畢業生及已取得註冊資格的專業人士。要協助這些年輕人，除了在獄中給予適當的培訓及進修機會，也需要給予他們出獄後的支援。

可是，部分獲釋的年輕人在重投社會時遇到不少阻礙，包括面對負面的標籤以至誤解，令他們在繼續學業以至尋找工作上屢屢碰壁；部分亦因為專業資格受影響而未能重操本業。因此，我們為這些更生的年輕人提供學業、就業及申請專業資格的支援，亦為他們安排師友配對、給予短期實習工作或義工活動，讓他們積極參與社會建設。而這些年輕人大都不負所望，重回生活正軌。

但要協助這些年輕人重新融入社會，絕非一個人、一個機構便可，需要社會不同階層、不同機構和團體的努力，再加上整體社會包容和接納，方能成事。我們感謝警務處、懲教署及社會福利署一直以來的協助。過去數月，「蛻變計劃」曾經就青年更生工作積極聯繫社會更多持份者，包括大專院校、商界代表、專業及教育團體，以至相關社會機構等等。我們發現社會各方不但反應正面，更認同倘若被捕青年願意承擔法律責任並汲取教訓，社會應該給予他們機會，包括容許他們按本身的才能及個人的情況恢復其專業資格或繼續發展專業技能。

社會各界縱是有心幫忙，卻不無擔憂，擔心被一些人扭曲原意，被民粹輿論圍攻，徒添信譽風險，部分甚至害怕被「秋後算賬」。

行政長官去年在宣讀《施政報告》後曾公開表示：「如果一個人已經受到法律制裁，我們絕對應該盡量幫助他，再成為貢獻社會的一分子。」在在反映特區政府願意協助被捕年輕人重回生活正軌。可惜，這仍未足以消除各人的疑慮。

要釋除疑慮，我們認為最有力的方法就是特區政府再多走一步。政府各部門及旗下的公營機構對更生青年採取開放態度，在確保公開及公平的原則下僱用這些年輕人，或提供短期工作、實習機會等，並以言語及行動呼籲僱主、學校、社會機構和團體給他們新的機會，讓香港可人盡其才。

2019年社會事件距今已有4年，在被捕的一萬多人中，被檢控者約3000人，尚有大量被捕人士仍然候查。我們明白，2019年社會事件規模龐大，被捕人數眾多，執法機構需時搜證；但漫長的等候過程中，對年輕人是一大折騰，也令他們難以規劃人生。

年輕人須為其所作所為負責，我們亦無意要求予以特赦；不過司法界常言「遲來的公義是對公義的否定」。調查、檢控及審訊步伐緩慢不單有損整個政府的公權威信，亦違背法治精神。我們希望政府可以加快調查、檢控及審訊；對有足夠證據起訴者盡快檢控及審訊，對沒有足夠證據起訴者則應盡快結案。

「蛻變計劃」成立以來，過去兩年多的工作讓我們對年輕人有更多觀察，看到不少年輕人對香港有歸屬感，在個人經濟回報以外，有的更注重後物質主義的生活，遇見認為不公平之事，會提出質疑。年輕人熱愛香港，本意是好，若加以循循善誘，他們定必可貢獻社會；相反，若他們認為未有適當的渠道表達意見，有志未能伸展，只會增加對社會的不信任，從而衍生無力感，最終選擇離開，或是躺平。

17%患最少一種精神疾病

中大香港亞太研究所在今年9月發表的民調顯示，逾六成受訪者對政治缺乏興趣，八成以上受訪者完全沒有向議員、官員及政府部門表達意見；逾半受訪者認為政府不太在乎其想法，認為自己對政府的政策並無任何發言權。更令人憂慮的是，香港大學今年公布的調查顯示，在受訪的3340名15至24歲青年中，有16.6%表示患上最少一種精神疾病，包括抑鬱、廣泛性焦慮症、驚恐症、躁鬱症及思覺失調，問題嚴重，政府必須正視。

2019年社會事件迄今已有4年，香港需要擺脫過去的紛爭及陰霾，療養受創傷口，方可為社會謀發展。妥善處理被捕年輕人的更生工作是讓傷口癒合的重要一步。

2019年參與抗議活動的年輕人為數極多，他們多數沒有違法，也沒有被捕，但他們每每有朋友或同學被捕。如果大量被捕青年未能更生並融入社會，將影響一整代年輕人的取態，甚至影響他們留港或離港的抉擇。那對整體社會的和諧團結、對穩定人心、對爭取土生土長的青年人留港貢獻、服務都不利。

「青年興則香港興」！國家主席習近平去年7月1日的講話，殷切寄望「每一個香港青年都投身到建設美好香港的行列中」，我們相信這也是特區政府的願景。我們衷心希望，行政長官藉新一份《施政報告》這契機，更關顧年輕人，讓他們和整個社會一起重新出發，共建未來。

民智行動設計智庫、「蛻變計劃」團隊

HKCGG, THE BULLETIN, SEPTEMBER 2023

“It takes a village.” For Yun Wing Sung, Co-founder of the Hong Kong charity Project Change, the African proverb encapsulates the efforts that go into rehabilitating youths arrested for their alleged involvement in the Anti-Extradition Bill movement that swept Hong Kong in 2019. 

Sung, who was Chairman of the Economics Department at the Chinese University of Hong Kong for 17 years and currently serves as Adjunct Professor, founded Project Change in 2020 along with two other academics, including his wife, Dr Pauline Po-lin Sung-Chan. The cause: to help these young people – a majority of whom did not have a previous criminal record – rebuild their lives. 

“Of the 10,000 people arrested, over 4,000 were students – 2,200 were enrolled in tertiary educational institutions while the rest were still in high school,” said Sung. “It has been extremely detrimental to their careers, their families and the Hong Kong community. Regardless of where we stand politically or ideologically, the wellbeing of our future generations ought to be our priority.”

In the months leading up to the launch, the team visited various NGOs and met with Government officials to assess service gaps, as most welfare agencies offered programmes targeted at “conventional” arrestees with a different profile. In June 2020, Project Change was established as a registered apolitical organization helping individuals under 25 arrested during the social unrest. Since then, it has managed over 150 cases. 

Reintegrating Youths

Besides facing a long judiciary process, the youths also must deal with issues such as being denied jobs or places in educational institutions rejection from family and friends, as well as mental and physical health issues. Without intervention, this could have a lasting impact on their lives, as well as affecting sociopolitical stability and economic productivity, said Sung. 

While social stigma and discrimination persist, perspectives are slowly changing. Program Director John Mak said the organization has worked closely with a few Government departments, including the Social Welfare Department, the Correctional Services Department and the Hong Kong Police Force. “Chief Executive John Lee and Commissioner of Police Raymond Siu have both repeatedly stressed that those who have served their time, completed their legal responsibilities and are committed to being law-abiding citizens should be offered a second chance of reintegrating into society and given the opportunity to contribute. Their commitments have led to a change in how the community sees these young adults,” he explained.

Project Change’s rehabilitation programme is grounded in holistic therapy and education. It is supported by a network of professionals, including social workers, clinical psychologists and psychiatrists, with counselling services provided for 1-2 years, comprising 50 one-hour sessions per year. These include individual face-to-face counselling, e-counselling and projects. Family-centred therapy is also provided to encourage parents and relatives to play a positive role in the development of these youths. Enrollment is voluntary and free of cost, with donors and supporters taking care of expenses. 

Promoting Reintegration

In 2021, Project Change introduced a reintegration programme to help youths released from incarceration to get jobs and seek readmission to universities. Sung said Government-funded universities have been receptive to the cause, with awareness increasing every day, especially in the education sector. Finding employment, though, can sometimes be a challenge due to the perceived reputational risk of hiring such individuals. 

“When we first started, there were two challenges,” said Mak. “One was the general lack of awareness in society about these youths – I remember one company being surprised that they number in the thousands. The second problem, of course, was the social stigma. Today, companies are becoming more amenable to the idea, particularly in sectors such as engineering, banking and education.”

Opportunities for short-term internships are seen as beneficial, especially for those awaiting trial, as it allows them to contribute to society. It can also have a positive effect on the sentencing handed down by the court. 

“With Hong Kong facing a talent crunch, the message we have been repeating since Chief Executive John Lee’s Policy Address last October is that if these youths have a positive outlook and want to turn their lives around, we should offer them an opportunity,” said Mak. “We want to give them a platform to contribute to the local economy, especially as Hong Kong is on the path to economic revival. Ideally, they should be able to go on to lead normal lives and get jobs without us having to highlight the problems they have faced. That would be the optimal result.”

Spreading Awareness

Project Change has been ramping up its campaign to spread the word among companies across various industries and business chambers, including the HKGCC, where the team will give a presentation this month. The charity also holds community events like film screenings to help youths think big, build empathy and socialize, while Sung often invites small groups to fellowship dinners. Mak described a fundraising concert held in September last year, where Government officials, business leaders and LegCo members mingled with the youths. “It was a cohesive show of cross-sector support,” said Mak. “And that is our message: society ought to work together in a spirit of reconciliation.”

For these young people to integrate successfully into society, they need to know that the community is on their side, said Sung. “It takes everyone, from business leaders and educators to families and friends, to help them overcome hardships and rebuild their lives. We must see them not as a burden but as potential talent. This togetherness should be the way forward for Hong Kong.”