4 | Thursday, October 8, 2020 KONG| EDITIONCHINA DAILY COMMENTHK

Yang Sheng TO THE POINT STAFF WRITER ‘Project Lazarus’ is a new plot Indoctrination with harmful to galvanize HK ideas not part of academic freedom Teachers are sometimes called “engi- world to nurture patriotism and rule-of- neers of the soul” because what they say law awareness in schools, a responsibility Yang Sheng says Benny Tai’s latest political scheme and do in class can infl uence the stu- all teachers are naturally expected to dents for many years to come and even assume because they are professionally is devised to divide the city and plunge it into chaos for their whole life. That is why parents trained to give students useful knowl- and society in general tend to hold teach- edge as well as moral guidance and ers to a very high standard in terms of fundamental command of humanity and fter failing to achieve Still coping with the linger- the nation’s Constitution and the HKSAR professional integrity. universal values. In this respect, teachers his political agenda Basic Law, through a self-determination Unfortunately, some corrupt individu- are obliged to set an example for stu- with the illegal “Occupy ing trauma of the “Occupy process. In short, it is a new plot to sepa- als from the education sector, driven dents to follow. Take a look at the United Central” movement in rate from . by their own political preferences, have States, which is regarded as a “model 2014, Benny Tai Yiu-ting Central” campaign and the In 2013, when Tai was advocating his abused their professional status for years democracy” by some people in Hong has kept churning out violent “black revolution”, “Occupy Central with Love and Peace” on end to indoctrinate innocent students Kong. Schools there strictly forbid the plots, one after another, campaign, he organized three so-called with harmful ideas, including separatism spread of secessionism, hate-mongering to advance his agenda. He has recently the people of Hong Kong Deliberation Days, and called for strikes and “achieving justice by breaking the and advocacy of violence. Perpetrators Aunveiled his new pet “Project Lazarus”, and class boycotts. His campaign eventu- law”, in the name of free speech and aca- are always dealt with swiftly and severely which he claims will engage the public in must be on high alert for ally led to major road blockages and the demic freedom. Some of them even fi lled according to relevant laws and rules, a citywide “consultation process” to dis- another disruptive cam- paralysis of core business districts, plung- students with hatred toward the authori- including lengthy if not a life ban from cuss the “blueprint for rebirth” for Hong ing Hong Kong into a state of lawless- ties, turning them into foot soldiers to teaching in schools. US law also requires Kong. Obviously, in designing his new paign put forward by po- ness for 79 days. “Occupy Central” also fi ght for their own political gains. Those schools to nurture patriotism and a sense project, Tai chose to continue ignoring litical demagogues such planted a seed for the anti-extradition- teachers have in fact been doing the of law-abiding civility in students in the constitutional status of Hong Kong as law amendment-bill movement last year, exact opposite of what their profession is accordance with moral education guide- a special administrative region of China, as Tai. Discerning the true which, needless to say, brought division meant to pursue. lines issued by the federal government. as well as the central government’s over- and rampant violence to the city. “Proj- The primary school teacher recently Unscrupulous teachers in Hong Kong all jurisdiction over Hong Kong. His new motives behind his sweet ect Lazarus” is of a similar nature as deregistered by the who have been indoctrinating students maneuver to “build a democratic Hong talk will help prevent law- “Occupy Central”. By initiating “a grand is one of such ill-motivated individu- with ideas of separatism and hatred Kong through discussion” is actually self- debate” on the future of Hong Kong to als who poisoned students’ minds with toward the authorities are morally cor- determination in disguise with an agenda lessness from taking over gather “public opinion”, “Project Lazarus” political prejudice and separatist ideas. rupt and, therefore, have no qualms to turn Hong Kong into an independent attempts to concoct a new wave of sepa- The teacher in question committed about radicalizing students and turn- political entity. Should “Project Laza- our city again. ratist maneuvers that include inciting those abuses systematically instead of ing them into “fi ghters” for their own rus” go ahead as planned, it will surely illegal and violent protests in pursuit of inadvertently, as some opposition politi- political agenda. As a result of systematic become another version of “Occupy Cen- “dual universal su› rage” and inviting cians claimed in his defense. In addition indoctrination over the years, some 1,600 tral” that would tear the city apart with mittee of the National People’s Congress more foreign intervention into Hong to harming students morally and intel- students arrested during the year-long another wave of violence and vandalism. set up the framework for the implemen- Kong’s internal a› airs. Determined to lectually, he also gave teachers a very “black revolution” were below the age Tai’s “Occupy Central” movement has tation of universal su› rage for the selec- sacrifi ce the interests of Hong Kong and bad name and damaged the reputation of 18 and most of them were secondary wreaked havoc on Hong Kong; there is tion of the chief executive and the elec- the entire country, Tai will do whatever of the education sector. Deregistering a school students, with the youngest being no way Hong Kong people will sit on tion of members of the Legislative Coun- it takes to achieve Hong Kong indepen- teacher is a serious penalty. That is why merely 12. their hands and let him have his way. cil in a resolution it passed on Aug 31, dence through self-determination. it has rarely been applied. In this case, it Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability “Project Lazarus” alludes to a biblical 2014. As a special administrative region The National Security Law, intended was absolutely necessary and appropri- is in growing danger of collapse unless story about the resurrection of Lazarus. of China under the “one country, two to put an end to chaos, has been success- ate, and the Education Bureau’s decision bold and swift remedial actions are Its name unambiguously insinuates systems” principle, Hong Kong’s electoral fully implemented. E› ective law enforce- is perfectly in line with Article 47 of the taken to depoliticize campuses. The Tai’s new attempt to revive his political reform can be carried out only within the ment under the new law has gradually Education Ordinance. Education Bureau still has a long, uphill campaign. In an e› ort to promote his framework prescribed in accordance with put Hong Kong back on track. Tai claims It is a common practice around the journey. new project, Tai published an article in a the Constitution, the Basic Law and other his “Project Lazarus” is intended to local newspaper in which he said Hong relevant laws. engage the community and promote “a Kong “had been buried in a dark tomb”. Tai’s “Project Lazarus” emphasizes grand debate” on the “rebirth of Hong He went on to encourage readers to the need to discuss the road map for Kong”, but we all know that his new “prepare themselves for the democratic implementing universal su› rage in Hong campaign is nothing more than a plot to elections that have yet to come”. He called Kong. However, never has he mentioned divide society for the sake of his politi- Editor’s note: on at least 4,000 people to participate in that electoral reform in the SAR must cal persuasions. Still coping with the Hong Kong Edition has launched “Project Lazarus” to discuss “the future of conform to the nation’s Constitution lingering trauma of the “Occupy Central” a photo-sharing campaign on Hong Kong with any option”. Thus, “Proj- and the HKSAR Basic Law, nor has he campaign and the violent “black revolu- Instagram. You can share your ect Lazarus” is clearly another self-deter- mentioned the central authorities’ lead- tion”, the people of Hong Kong must be photos by tagging #hk24hr, and mination, or Hong Kong independence, ing role in Hong Kong’s constitutional on high alert for another disruptive cam- we’ll choose the best ones to pub- plot under the guise of a democratic order. Instead of acknowledging these paign put forward by political dema- lish in the newspaper. process. determining factors, “Project Lazarus” gogues such as Tai. Discerning the true The National Security Law has facili- emphasizes only the need for a citywide motives behind his sweet talk will help tated the restoration of the rule of law in “grand democratic debate” on unrestrict- prevent lawlessness from taking over Hong Kong by bringing the persistent, ed options. Obviously, the new plot is our city again. I can fly! violent campaign to an end. This is an playing the same old tune; that is, to turn indisputable fact that Tai cannot twist, the SAR’s high degree of autonomy into The author is a current a airs com- A woman poses beside a wall with a mural in Central. however hard he tries to vilify the law. full autonomy, or to establish a consti- mentator. The views do not necessarily RAYMOND CHAN / CHINA DAILY More importantly, the Standing Com- tutional order that does not conform to refl ect those of China Daily. Policy Address should tackle youth unemployment

he SAR government is to unveil problem. This should also be the focus of panies CB Insights and Frost & Sullivan such as the interactive map dashboard, to its new Policy Address next week, this year’s Policy Address, including the have predicted that by 2025, the global enhance administration transparency and with a focus likely on boosting the following measures: value of the industry will range from $1.4 unite people economy. But I think it is also of First, provide fi ve-year interest-free trillion to $1.56 trillion. In this year’s smart-city ranking from paramountT importance to tackle the youth loans to local startups to save them and As Hong Kong’s second-largest trading IESE Business School, Hong Kong scored unemployment problem. the newly formed ecosystem. Young partner, ASEAN is eager to develop smart very low in “social cohesion”, at 111th. When Hong Kong was hit by the SARS people are the fresh impetus of startups, cities, as the infrastructures in the group- The government made use of the inter- Winnie Tang epidemic 17 years ago, the overall unem- which also provide youth with job oppor- ings have not kept up with the booming active map dashboard, providing a clear The author is an adjunct professor in the and updated picture of the COVID-19 ployment rate climbed to 8.5 percent. By Department of Geography, Faculty of Social tunities. In the past few years, thanks economic development. comparison, the unemployment rate of Sciences and Faculty of Architecture at the to the e› orts of the government, Hong On the other hand, Hong Kong’s per- outbreak, to swiftly rebut rumors and 6.2 percent recorded in the correspond- . Kong’s startup ecosystem has taken shape. formance in the smart-city sector has clear up confusing messages about the ing quarter this year, during the COVID-19 In the fi ve years since the establishment been widely recognized internationally. pandemic. Now the dashboard can also be pandemic, is relatively moderate. However, of the Innovation and Technology Bureau, According to the IESE Cities in Motion used to demonstrate the e› ectiveness of under both health emergencies, the youth the government has invested more than Index 2020, published by the IESE Busi- various relief programs, such as showing group (aged 15-24) is seriously a› ected. that younger workers were laid o› fi rst ver- HK$100 billion ($12.9 billion) in inno- ness School in Spain in July, Hong Kong’s the number of companies and employees The unemployment rate for 15-19-year-olds sus older people; it also took them longer to vation and technology. The results are smart-city performance continues to excel. benefi ting from the Employment Support reached 33 percent in 2003. Though the secure a stable job. rewarding: According to InvestHK, there It was ranked 10th among 174 cities in the Scheme and the number of temporary jobs unemployment rate today for the same age Unemployment can easily lead to were more than 3,000 startups in Hong world and third in the Asia-Pacifi c region. created. By doing so, people have a clearer group is not that shocking, the rate for the depression. In the last century, Professor Kong in 2019, an increase of 21 percent Based on the transaction volume of data picture of the government’s administra- 15-19 and 20-24 groups are still two and Harvey Brenner of Johns Hopkins Uni- year-on-year. More than 12,000 employees centers in the Asia-Pacifi c region from ear- tion, enabling the public to monitor the three times higher than the overall rate, versity pointed out that for every percent- were hired, an increase of nearly 30 per- ly 2020 to the end of August, Hong Kong government’s performance. This will help reaching 18.8 percent and 14.3 percent age point increase in the unemployment cent from 2018. is seen as the fourth-most-attractive data unite people to revive Hong Kong. respectively, the highest among all age rate, the suicide rate would rise by as However, the government’s previous center location in the region, according The Asian Development Bank men- groups. much as 4 percent. In 2003, with a high e› orts could be wasted as a result of the to a research by consulting fi rm Cushman tioned, in its report Tackling the COVID-19 Several foreign studies concluded that unemployment rate in Hong Kong, 18.8 pandemic. A February survey conducted by & Wakefi eld. These rankings prove Hong Youth Employment Crisis in Asia and the youth unemployment had brought heavy out of every 100,000 people committed startup organization Youth Entrepreneur Kong has signifi cant advantages in export- Pacifi c, released in August, an e› ective costs to young people and society as a suicide, the highest rate recorded in the Warrior and the Asia Pacifi c Entrepreneur ing smart-city services. The SAR govern- policy response should underpin “three whole. last 20 years. Under the pandemic today, Association found that almost all startups ment must seize the business opportuni- cross-cutting considerations”, which are: A study of fi nancial crises in Europe dur- no change in the suicide rate was detect- were not optimistic about the business envi- ties and create job opportunities for local “reaching the most vulnerable youth ing 1980-2005 confi rmed a far-reaching ed for the time being, but it should not be ronment. Nearly 40 percent of them had professionals, especially young people. including the poorest and marginalized impact on youth unemployment rates of taken lightly. started laying o› employees and 20 percent Third, prepare the next generation for young women; meaningfully engaging up to fi ve years after the onset of the crisis, Over the years, the SAR government were planning to withdraw. future challenges and add coding to the young people in policy development and with the second and third years being the has provided various employment sup- Therefore, if the government does not regular curriculum of school education. social dialogue; and facilitating disag- worst. Even college graduates were a› ected; port to young people, including the Youth take a bold move to help them, the start- Many countries have added coding to gregation of crisis impact data by age and they had a lower income in the following Pre-employment Training Programme ups could lose momentum and people the mandatory curriculum of primary and enhanced youth labor market informa- 10 years. And those who did not receive a and the Youth Work Experience and eventually. secondary education, including the United tion”. This echoes the belief that smart university education were worse o› . Training Scheme in 1999 and 2002 respec- Second, export software, hardware, and Kingdom, Estonia, Italy, Finland, France, cities should be built from the bottom, is an example. The economic recession that tively. In September, the SAR government consulting services for “smart cities” to the Spain and South Korea. Hong Kong and that to build a livable city requires the began in the mid-1990s has caused many further optimized the programs, such as 10-member Association of Southeast Asian should catch up as soon as possible by joint e› ort of all people. It should also be a employers to change the form of employ- increasing allowances to employers and Nations for the development of local pro- speeding up training in this area to inject priority of the SAR government. ment from long-term to temporary or young employees. However, with youth fessionals and the economy. momentum into Hong Kong’s talent-pool part-time jobs. Studies in the United States, unemployment continuing to rise, we The business opportunity in the smart- growth. The views do not necessarily refl ect those Canada, and South Korea have also found must work from more aspects to solve the city sector is huge. Market research com- Fourth, use information technology, of China Daily.