Civil Society Flourishes in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is looking a bit frayed round the edges. The bankers are not busy as markets are down. Homeless people were sleeping in tents under the HSBC mega-structure. There was a vast turnout at the June 4 rally at Victoria Park. Suits lull disconsolate outside skyscrapers alternately firing up cigarettes or shooting off texts. Deal makers are waiting for their blackberries to buzz. They are not buzzing. Civil Society is flourishing in the growing chasm of the wealth divide.

In meetings with a range of NGO’s from Pilnet (free public service law), to Youth Business HK and Medecins Sans Frontieres, I could sense their optimism that their time had come. When we did a presentation on public interest law there were 30 keen attendees whereas there would normally be 3 people for a lunch time meeting in the city that worships money.
NGO’s are maybe the only glue that can keep this fragmenting society together. It is a privilege to be working with the pioneers in this field at present.

Picture: meeting with Gary Teng (Youth Business HK) and Janice Yau.

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