Social governance

The August sun blazed fiercely, a heatwave swept through Hong Kong, and the city was abuzz with excitement. Top international football teams visited Hong Kong one after another, tickets selling out in the blink of an eye, the cheers of fans seemingly fueled by the economic boom of these events. Meanwhile, the authorities extended "National Fitness Day" to two days for the first time, drawing huge crowds eager to experience a moment of free exercise. In conjunction with the national "Fitness Day" in August, the Hong Kong government seemed to be painting a picture of a vibrant sporting era. However, dazzling fireworks are not everyday occurrences. The deafening cheers inside the stadiums could not mask the harsh reality of a lack of regular exercise among the population. Is this city-wide sports fervor truly rooted in the community, or merely a mirage with public relations value? While foreign stars were showered with fanfare on the pitch, ordinary citizens were battling scalpers to reserve a run-down badminton court. This bizarre and disjointed situation is a dilemma we urgently need to confront.

As June arrived, several of my friends from out of town visited Hong Kong. Upon entering the airport terminal, they were immediately drawn in by the enticing aroma of tea. A demonstration of Hong Kong-style milk tea making techniques was underway, with the chef skillfully preparing the tea in mid-air.

In the early hours of the morning, the skyscrapers on both sides of Victoria Harbour remained brightly lit. The city's economic engine has always been driven by the sweat and toil of countless workers. While Hong Kong people's work ethic is world-renowned, behind the gleaming glass curtain walls, heavy work pressure acts like invisible shackles, gradually eroding the souls of its citizens. Recently, during peak job-hunting season, many Gen Z graduates confided in me, lamenting the high pressure and fast pace of their internships, which left them deeply self-doubting and even experiencing a profound sense of powerlessness.

Data doesn't lie; this sense of powerlessness is far from unfounded. AXA's mental health survey reveals that over 30% of Generation Z report suffering from severe stress, a proportion far exceeding the 231% TP3T in the 35-44 age group and the 181% TP3T in the 45-54 age group. However, this phenomenon cannot be simply attributed to "young people's poor stress tolerance," as a high-pressure workplace culture is impacting all age groups, becoming a hidden cross-generational epidemic. As early as 2022, a survey by the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions' Occupational Safety and Health Association showed that a staggering 84.51% TP3T respondents frequently felt immense work pressure. In the same year, the Federation of Trade Unions also accurately identified work as the biggest source of stress for fathers in Hong Kong.

Amidst the recent heated discussions about waste reduction, many citizens have taken the first step towards environmental protection with good intentions, but they are often met with a frustrating reality. Carrying a bag of dripping, smelly kitchen waste, searching for smart recycling bins on the street, and even returning home disappointed when the machines are full or malfunctioning, has become a daily annoyance. This seemingly insignificant pain point of "dripping kitchen waste" actually directly exposes a blind spot in the governance of the Hong Kong SAR government's promotion of a "circular economy."