#Newspaper

Valedictorian quotes Zhuangzi to describe Hong Kong, sees no hope for the future

(22 July) Wong, a student at St. Paul's Co-Educational College, scored full marks (highest attainable score of 5** across all seven subjects) in the HKDSE public exam. He received a conditional offer from the Chinese University of Hong Kong to enter its Cell and Molecular Biology programme and hopes to minor in Chinese Studies.

Possessing a deep interest in the Chinese language, Wong quoted Ransacking Coffers - a chapter from Zhuangzi - when asked what piece of Chinese literature he would use to describe Hong Kong's current situation. "He who steals a hook gets hanged as a crook; he who steals a kingdom makes himself a duke," offered a close depiction of Hong Kong today. The meaning of the saying is that stealing [a small item like] a belt results in being sentenced while usurpers of political power are bestowed with a royal title. It serves as a critique of today's societal injustices.

Wong stated that after finishing his bachelor's degree in Hong Kong, he would consider studying abroad. Originally planning on staying in Hong Kong, he said that after witnessing the recent changes in Hong Kong's legal system, government administration and the relationships among its citizens, the overall situation has made a turn for the worse. "I can't see hope for the future of Hong Kong, nor can I see any bright prospects." He will consider whether or not to return and settle in Hong Kong in the future.

Source: RTHK
Translated by: Hong Kong Echo

#FailedState #Zhuangzi #HKDSE #Valedictorian #LegalSystem