Balances in Law Enforcement Series X: Post-80s' Letters to
Family
My views on 'Post-80s'
In this issue of "Post-80s' Letters to Family", Police constable Lo Sun-kuen, a graduate from City University of Hong Kong and now posted to the Police Tactical Unit E (Hong Kong Island), shares his views on the "Post-80s" phenomenon.
Dearest Mom,
It has been more than three years since I joined the Force. The job of a policeman is both exciting and demanding. Luckily, seeing your warm smile when I come home from work is the best encouragement. At the time when I left university, I wanted to choose a job that can offer satisfaction and challenges. After careful consideration, I chose to join the Force. Thank you for supporting my decision, and I know my choice was right. I have been very proud of being a police officer in the past three years, and always feel satisfied whenever I am serving the public in my uniform.
In these few years there is a group of "Post-80s" who have actively taken part in social campaigns. Since my attachment to the PTU (HKI), I have encountered them from time to time in various public events. I know you are very worried after watching the news about some of their radical actions. I wish to assure you that your son has been professionally trained and is absolutely capable of dealing with any such events. You often ask me what "Post-80s" are, so let me tell you what I think.
Why do the "Post-80s" suddenly show interest in social affairs? And why do they act with such a high profile? I think the reasons are plenty and complicated. Global economic downturn, rising human rights awareness, and profound influence of the Internet are some of the factors. Young people who love their mother country and are concerned about social affairs should be given recognition. Hong Kong is a diversified society where freedoms of speech and assembly are of utmost importance and should be upheld. Yet on the other hand, peace and non-violence are also the core values of Hong Kong. Therefore, I think that while respecting freedom of assembly, the police should also take appropriate action against any persons who breach the peace and act violently in order to protect the safety of the public.
There have been many analyses and comments on the "Post-80s" phenomenon. However, as a "Post-80" myself, I think our generation should objectively reflect on our own situations. During the past ten odd years, Hong Kong people have encountered the 1997 reunification with the Mainland, global financial crisis and sub-prime mortgage crisis in the United States of America. Even though Hong Kong is not the richest city in the world, I believe Hong Kong people, with a sound economy, clean and highly efficient administration and independent judiciary, are in general living happily. The "Post-80s" should stay calm and rethink whether Hong Kong is as miserable as some critics have claimed.
In addition, we "Post-80s" should adjust our expectations. Though I am a university graduate, I understand clearly that nowadays university graduates, unlike those in the past, are no longer in an advantageous position. The fact is that high salary and good positions for university graduates cannot be guaranteed anymore. In the past, only one out of 100 high school-age teens was admitted to university. However, nowadays 20 out of 100 are admitted. Given the unstable economic environment, competition is keen in the job market. Therefore, university graduates, who have not yet found a job meeting their expectations, should not put all the blames on society. Instead, they should be more adaptable to the changing environment, more pragmatic, make more efforts, and look for opportunities to make their dreams a reality.
By now, I hope you have a better understanding of the "Post-80s". Please do not worry about me because of the actions of this group of people.
Sun Kuen
PC
Lo
with
his
family