a quarterly journal from the hongkong federation of youth groups December 2010 Volume 2 Number 4 Always here 1960-2010 Commemorative anniversary issue Contents Anniversary messages The Hon Donald Tsang, Patron Sir T.L. Yang, Vice Patron Mr George H. Stokes, Vice Patron Dr Peter Tsoi, President 5 Editorial 6 Highlight Rosanna Wong Ever changing, always here Interviews HKFYG Council Members 16 Peter Tsoi, President Involved, connected, committed 18 Clara Shek, Ogilvy Listening, communicating, facilitating 19 Hubert Chan, HKC International Seeing two sides of cyberspace 20 Allen Fung, McKinsey Getting involved: a dose of reality Feature 36 Internetscope Reaching out in cyberspace 38 City space Sporting chance In the loop 46 Asia Bibi Dress to impress! 47 June Leung A chance to re-invent your self 48 Kaleidoscope George H. Stokes, Vice Patron The founding of the Federation December 2010 Volume 2 Number 4 Identifying needs, targeting problems Youth at risk 8 On the skids 10 Late night hang out 12 At the margins 14 Parent-child mediation Resolving conflicts Counselling 22 Close to the edge 24 Special needs, special strategies 25 Turning monsters into kittens 27 Youth entrepreneurship Think sustainable: interview with Alex Tam, Ecosage co-owner 30 Youth SPOT project Saving up for future needs Addictive behaviour 32 Escape from reality 34 Future at stake 40 Arts & culture Sugar Chan Why I dance Travel 44 Anaita Tejpal Welcoming the New Year with lights: Diwali 45 Au Ka-lam The Chinese experience: Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong HKFYG Core Services Counselling Parent-child Mediation Creativity Education & Youth Exchange Research & Publications e-Services Services for Youth at Risk Education Services Volunteer Services Leadership Training Youth Employment Leisure, Cultural & Sports Services Youth SPOTs HKFYG Anniversary Messages Warmest congratulations to the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups on its 50th Anniversary. As our key partner in youth development, the Federation works tirelessly to encourage young people to lead a life driven by a sense of mission, civic- mindedness, healthy habits and positive attitudes. Many of these young people have become responsible adults, model citizens and even brilliant leaders in our society. I thank the Federation for its commitment to our younger generation. May I wish the Federation another fruitful half-century. The Honourable Donald Tsang, GBM Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Patron My most sincere congratulations for the Golden Jubilee. Together, we nurture young people; together, we strengthen them to face the challenges ahead, and together, for at least the next fifty years, the Federation will inspire them to even greater things. Sir T.L. Yang, GBM, JP Vice Patron The foundations of the HKFYG were established by the time I left in 1970. Those foundations still stand firm. The Federation meets so many needs in the community, with so many different activities now. May the good work continue for another fifty years. Mr George H. Stokes, MBE Vice Patron For fifty years, the Federation has been providing services to generations of young people. It would not have been possible without the assistance, encouragement and partnership of the community. On behalf of everyone at the Federation, I would like to express my deep gratitude for this support. We so value your trust in us. Dr Peter Tsoi, JP President Editorial would like to thank our Patron and Vice Patrons for their encouraging words and their abiding support. It is our honour, obligation and joy to fulfil our vision and mission to serve the young people I of Hong Kong. In this special issue of Youth Hong Kong, we have invited those at the frontline of Federation services to talk about their work. With them, we discover the nature of the young people we care for and serve. Outreach and social workers, along with mediators and counsellors, share the challenges they face, while young people reflect on their own experiences. Hong Kong has changed over the past 50 years, as have the aspirations, issues, needs and dreams of young people. Throughout, the Federation has been here, constantly gaining insight into the world of youth so that we might be able to deliver relevant and timely services. This is our commitment. It is our pledge and promise: to care, to serve, to always be here for each successive generation of Hong Kong’s young people. Dr Rosanna Wong, DBE, JP Executive Director The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups December 2010 December 2010 Youth Hong Kong 5 Highlight Ever changing, always here by Rosanna Wong No one would deny that the changes in Hong Kong over the past 50 years have been anything short of tremendous. Leaving aside the unique political transition from colony to Special Administrative Region, this is a city which has transformed itself economically and socially. Here we trace the parallel changes in services for youth. In the 1960s, Hong Kong had a global reputation as a “factory city”, The 1970s were marked not only by the extension of government- manufacturing inexpensive, but not always safe or reliable products. A subsidized education from six to nine years, but also by the introduction burgeoning middle class was still dwarfed by the large labouring class of a housing policy and the emergence of subsidized primary which worked hard in difficult, dangerous conditions and lived simply, healthcare. The city was changing too as a result of the opening up of in overcrowded squatter settlements or housing estates. They received the mainland. This saw manufacturers moving their factories north of little by way of social provision or assistance from a government the border and Hong Kong redefining itself as a commercial, service- whose focus was on administrative affairs and containment of unrest, orientated city. As a result, incomes increased as did the standard and especially at the time of the 1967 riots and the acute water shortages. quality of living, allowing for a high degree of upward social and economic mobility. For a vast number of young people, working to help the family out of poverty took priority over both a carefree childhood and an education. With a dearth of trained youth workers, the various youth organizations “For a vast number of young could do little more than simply provide recreational facilities and people, working to help the family opportunities, instead of addressing more deep-rooted challenges and out of poverty took priority over offering in-depth, diversified services. both a carefree childhood and an education.” The beginnings of a social policy By the end of the 1960s and into the next decade, changes included a marked development in social policy. While some might argue that The emergence of new priorities this was a reactive, rather than a proactive action on the part of the Young people’s needs and issues were reflected in these changing times government to ensure social stability, it did improve the material and youth organizations responded by further consolidating their conditions of the people. Youth organizations also began introducing counselling and outreach work and by instigating a new focus on family various initiatives to establish more comprehensive services. Pilot life and school social work. The latter two developments are indicative projects included youth counselling and guidance, as well as service of Hong Kong’s growing stability, in that family and education now projects for young people working in industry and outreach social work. appear as major concerns, compared to poverty, long working hours However, the focus still tended to be on remedial work, rather than on and low wages in the past. the all-round development of young people and their potential. 6 Youth Hong Kong December 2010 Highlight In the 1980s, the future of Hong Kong was negotiated. While this had forefront of commerce, including finance, shipping, tourism and service repercussions in political circles, the city was booming economically and industries. was slowly asserting itself as a wealthy business and financial centre. In fact, the ever-changing, ever-higher skyline was a visible indicator of the Increasing complexities growing prosperity of Hong Kong, in spite of the rise in emigration. The shift in attitude among young people reflected not only this growing wealth, but also a sense of entitlement, which was countered Increasing affluence, increased expectations by a focus on volunteering, and leadership development, awareness- With growing affluence, the challenges faced by young people changed building and education on how to give back to society. None of these as their expectations and aspirations rose. No longer dependent on new service areas detracted from fundamental counselling and needs- outlets for simple recreational activities, youth services now included related services, but the challenge for youth organizations was remaining relevant in a context of increasing complexity. focus-on holistic development and broader experiences. Young people were now being equipped with skills to face an increasingly competitive world, participating in increasingly popular exchange programmes, and getting involved in science and other educational activities outside the “The need to constantly update classroom. their competencies has placed today’s young people under levels of unprecedented pressure.” “With growing affluence, the challenges faced by young people Now, into the second decade of the new century, Hong Kong is not changed, as their expectations and only a global economic player, but a leader in human development as aspirations rose.” well. Ranked second by the World Bank in its index for ease of doing business, Hong Kong is also ranked highly in the newly released UNDP 20th Anniversary Human Development Report, entitled “The Real Wealth of As the professional standards of social and youth workers improved, Nations: Pathways to Human Development”. so too did their delivery of services to young people. With enhanced effectiveness and efficiency, the government consequently recognized Hong Kong has a key role to play in globalization and this too has had these efforts as standard subvented services.