Be Intelligent and Caring citizens

With reference to Kerry Kennedy’s article entitled ‘A liberal mind’ in the ‘South China Morning Post’ dated October 30, I would like to express my point of view about the importance of developing genuine citizenship.

 

Genuine citizenship is what students need to be educated on as it is a key factor in the well being of the city. This is particularly true at these particular times when the Occupy Central movement is making a huge impact on the lives of the Hong Kong residents. The protesters may consider themselves striving for a worthy cause, trying to make a difference to the future of Hong Kong. However, as caring citizens, they ought to be aware of their responsibilities and cannot turn a deaf ear to the complaints their courses of action have led to. What they are doing would be worth nothing, however lofty an ideal it may seem, if many are made to pay the high cost of it.

 

As mentioned in Kerry Kennedy’s article, students ought to learn to be ‘literate citizens, not single-issue citizens looking for quick fixes to complex problems’. The protesters need to have a good understanding of the electoral arrangements for the Chief Executive Election as an issue too complex to deal with speedily. It is necessary, too, to evaluate different sources of information related to the issue and to view it from various perspectives. While making their own judgment about the issue, they should also be willing to consider other solutions apart from the one they abide by.

 

We have seen on TV how the protesters’ representatives negotiated with the government officials. We appreciate their confidence and sincerity. But we would also like to see them more enlightened and equipped with better skills to speak convincingly while at the same time showing tolerance of opponent points of view over areas of disagreement. This, as Kerry Kennedy suggests, is what is expected of democratic citizens.

 

Last but not least, students should learn to be law-abiding citizens as a city's well being depends on the citizens' respect for and adherence to law. Anything students do should be within the law. Refusal to comply with the injuncture issued by the court of law is a serious breach of law that should be condemned.

 

In brief, I see genuine citizenship as a requisite for democracy and social involvement. Students ought to be trained to be intelligent and caring citizens if they aspire to contribute to a democratic society.