Observer: Rational dialogue crucial to Hong Kong’s future
By Zhang Qingbo
People's Daily app
1569027325000

ef8e3b86a9e146edaee2981ff2f037e6.jpg

The HKSAR government will start its first session of the dialogue platform with the community next Thursday. Through more than three months of violence, Hongkongers finally get a chance to sit down for suggestions and solutions to end the chaos and fix the rift.

Dialogue is always better than confrontation. Violence and riots have made Hong Kong's economic development and people's livelihood slide on a downward trajectory, and left big questions on the future of Hong Kong. It is a necessary step and an effective way to resolve public grievances and build consensus through frank and sincere dialogue and seek breakthroughs and get out of the predicament through sincere consultations.

Making this move, the SAR government has shown its sincerity and all walks of life have expressed their understanding. This opportunity is rare and should not be disappointed.

For the SAR government, daring to take responsibility and listening carefully to the public shows its sincerity and determination to respect public opinion and care for the well-being of the people. Chief Executive Carrie Lam proposed that the dialogue session with the community be carried out broadly, transparently and openly with three forms, including regional dialogue, free dialogue and deep dialogue, which are enough to absorb the voices of all parties.

For citizens who are ready for the dialogue, they should have a rational, peaceful attitude and action, with no temptation and malice. The words and deeds that reject and defame the dialogue before it starts are just proof that extremists and separatists are reluctant to return society to prosperity and stability. People should stand up and sit down to help Hong Kong weather through the violence with rationality, if they do not want their homes to be harassed and inflicted by violence.

Rational dialogue doesn’t mean compromises in enforcing the law. Violence and rioting are challenging Hong Kong’s core values. Hence, any leniency for unlawful acts will harm the prospect of the city. The mission of clearing violence out of Hong Kong streets needs citizens’ unwavering support to strict policing.

Despite difficulties and challenges ahead, the SAR government will uphold its commitment to dialogue. It’s expected to see Hongkongers find the way out of its current predicament through dialogue with government, and fight violence and other law-breaking acts.

It’s wishful to think that the upcoming dialogue session would solve all problems and differences at once, but it’s the beginning of change. To restore order and stability and to address the deep-rooted problems the ongoing unrest reveals, the SAR government and citizens have to engage with each other with calm and rationality. That’s the only workable way to soothe public resentment and move together for a brighter future.

(Compiled by Chen Lidan and Zhang Jian)