A government advisor from Hong Kong Wednesday proposes recruiting as many as possible youth volunteers from Hong Kong to work for the 2008 Olympic Games.
"This could not only help display the national participation and social cohesion of all Chinese for hosting a successful Games, but also be conducive to enhancing Hong Kong youths' sense of national identity," said Tai Hay-lap, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).
Authorities concerned, suggested Tai, should think of employing1,000 young volunteers from Hong Kong to join in Beijing's current drive to prepare for an "eco-friendly, high-tech and human-centered" Olympic Games.
A "human-centered" Olympiad "requires the participation of the all Chinese, including overseas Chinese, to showcase the fine traditions of the Chinese culture and profound human affection of the Chinese people," he said.
Hong Kong, which returned to China's embrace in 1997, is known as an international center where "the East meets the West." Tai suggested Beijing employ Hong Kong residents who are acquainted with both Chinese and foreign cultures to serve foreigners in preparations for and during the Games.
For those Hong Kong students to work as volunteers, it will be a good opportunity to fill them with a sense of pulse for the motherland and personally witness the country's tremendous achievements, Tai added.
(Xinhua News Agency March 9, 2005)
