Young people in China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) are feeling growing pride in being Chinese as technology brings them closer to the mainland and as “China travel” goes viral on global social media, Kenneth Fok Kai-kong, a deputy to the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) from Hong Kong, said in an interview.
Fok spoke with China Global Television Network (CGTN) in Beijing on the sidelines of the “two sessions,” explaining why he had proposed setting up a Hong Kong sub-venue for the 2027 CMG Spring Festival Gala to mark the 30th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland.
He said the world’s most-watched annual television program would be a perfect platform for the SAR to share its achievements over the past three decades with the world.
“The ‘one country, two systems’ is such a genius, I would say, invention or a system that has enabled Hong Kong to stay (enjoy) prosperity and development for the past 30 years. So, it’s time, and we’re ready to tell the story in great detail and depth,” Fok said.
The major cultural event would also strengthen Hong Kong youths’ sense of national identity, which is already strong after many have seen the mainland with their own eyes, Fok added.
“I think now with the advent of technology and AI, I think the distances are getting closer. It’s much easier for younger generations to be able to reach different views and perspectives. So you’re not limited by so-called traditional channels or just one-way stories. And of course, this is also thanks to a lot of policies by the mainland authorities. For example, visa-free arrangements to a lot of countries around the world,” he said.
The NPC deputy said he could feel that young Hong Kongers now take pride in their Chinese identity, especially when they see global internet users talking about traveling to China and even becoming Chinese.
“These things are hard to measure, but I feel it. I think not just the youths in Hong Kong. I’m sure you’re familiar with the newest meme and term on the internet, even in Western countries. It’s called Chinamaxxing and China travel, right? A lot of internet sensations [about] travel around China, right? And that got widely reported all over the world. So these are things that, again, fuel our confidence,” Fok said.
The “two sessions” are the annual meetings of China’s top legislature, the National People’s Congress (NPC), and its top political advisory body, the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). Both bodies serve five-year terms and hold a plenary session each year, generally in March.
The fourth session of the 14th NPC and the fourth session of the 14th National Committee of the CPPCC kicked off on Thursday and Wednesday, respectively.
Hong Kong youth feel growing pride in being Chinese amid tech links, “China travel” trend: NPC deputy
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside Bulgaria’s Ministry of Defense on Friday night to protest U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and demand that U.S. military aircraft leave Bulgaria.
The protesters carried banners reading “Bulgaria says no to war! We want peace, not death!” and “Yankee, go home!” to voice opposition to what they described as an illegal invasion and to the presence of U.S. military forces in Bulgaria.
“We have gathered here to express our opinion that what the United States has launched is an illegal invasion,” said Grigorova, a protester.
Several U.S. military planes have been deployed at Sofia Airport since February. Although the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense has denied that they were linked to U.S. military operations against Iran, saying they were deployed to provide logistical support for NATO operations, some Bulgarians remain concerned that this could drag their country into war.
The U.S. and Israel on Feb. 28 launched strikes against Iran, plunging the war-torn Middle East into a new round of violence. Iran has retaliated with a series of counterattacks against Israel and U.S. targets across the region.
Bulgarians rally against U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran
