2.54 million for front page ads w/Carrie Lam's "Letter to HK". Background: sunrise at Victoria Harbour. Abstract: lyrics from the overplayed "Below Lion's Rock" 獅子山下

When will they get it? The "Lion's Rock" mentality does NOT ring a single bell with the younger generation.

Below Lion's Rock is a VERY popular song by the late Roman Tam. The song was released in 1979.

Some of these kids - their PARENTS are born in 1979.

The lyricist, the late James Wong, actually penned the song inspired by what he'd seen after fleeing to HK from China in 1949.

His family was probably like my grandfather - KMT officials persecuted in China or honest humble people seeking a better life elsewhere. Driven by hunger and poverty they were brilliant and wove the unique cultural fabric of what made HK distinct and booming from 1950s onwards.

It's a very positive song. The lyrics encourage people to drop their differences, to come together and celebrate life because despite regional language differences culture etc we now call Hong Kong home. With hard work and perseverance we'll overcome everything.

That's great.

One of the key messages which is VERY telling of its time say that with hard work, we'll all "write our own unique and long-lasting chapter in HK". It was an era where with hard work, talent and just the right amount of luck, any poor migrant can become tycoons like Li Ka-Shing.

Not saying we should completely spoonfeed young people these days but do you know what the average starting wage is now vs. 10 years ago?

Answer: the same. An acquaintance moved back to HK as a fresh uni grad and in 2009, he was offered 13k.

In 2020, many places STILL offer 13k

The same friend, with the help of his parents, then purchased a 2 room flat in a 30+ year old building in 2012 or so for 2.3 million.

Now, the same flat is at least 4.5 million.

I'm no economist, but life is FUCKING tough for kids with little money or support from their oarents

It would be naive to conclude that dismay and despair for their future on the sole and pure basis of money is what drove kids out onto the streets. It's also NOT just young people who are upset; we've seen a myriad of different age groups coming together since May 2019.

My point and beef with this whole Lion's Rock spirit is that it's outdated. Plain and Simple. It's very outdated. It's part of our central identity, yes, but to speak to an obviously different and younger generation, please ffs STOP with the whole Lion's Rock all the time.

The highest ranking folks up there at the top of HKSAR still don't understand that you don't NEED to destroy one generation to be at peace with another. You try to find common ground. You try to find solutions and ways to communicate.

You don't use the same stupid song.

End thread: either they don't know how to communicate or even worse, the HKSAR gov no longer wants to even try to communicate. They're going to follow even closer to Xi's Draconian measure as they know it's been a long lost PR game since May 2019.

Sad, sad era we live in.