//16.3 Overview

A Rocky Road of Challenges

by Chan Wing-yeung and Tai Na-na

The Federation’s front-line social workers share personal experiences as they analyse the challenges facing young offenders.

Police statistics for 2023 indicated that over 3,000 young people were arrested for committing criminal offences, a rise of 10% from the previous year.

In a survey conducted in June 2023, the Youth Crime Prevention Centre (YCPC) of the Federation found that 50.4% of the 377 youth at risk polled aged between 12 and 24 had been involved in “immoral” activities, with 70% involved in illegal activities. Of those, 54.9% were linked to violence or triads, 45.1% to drugs, and 36.1% to property damage.

All these figures are useful for policy and advocacy, but what we have learnt from our experience and work is that behind every number, there is a person, and very often that person’s actions are a result of a complex mix of factors.

A Photograph

Ho-jai was heavily involved with the triads, and trafficked drugs to make quick money. The night before he was to be sentenced, his father arranged a special family dinner: a final farewell meal together before his son’s uncertain future unfolded. However, instead of joining his family, Ho-jai chose to be with his friends.

It is hard for social workers to watch moments like this and it is even more difficult not to feel the sadness of the situation. Yet, we must keep up our professionalism as front-line social workers and hold back. But we can also try to insert a little human touch in these tragic moments.

On the day of the court hearing, Tai Na-na simply invited Ho-jai to take a photo with his father, a small gesture to preserve the connection they struggled to nurture.

“What I saw beneath Ho-jai’s tough exterior was a deep longing for a closer bond with his father. Yet his difficult childhood left him unable to reach out, just as it was a challenge for his father too. I could see the strained relationship between them and wondered how change could be brought about; not just for Ho-jai, but for the many young people I encounter in similar situations,” Na-na said.

The Complex Web

We know that juvenile crime is not driven by one single cause. It is often a result of a myriad of factors: a desire for excitement, psychological issues, lack of family support, peer influence, financial hardship, and even broader systemic issues like unemployment and poverty.

We have also found that many young offenders come from families with issues that include mental health challenges or learning disabilities, which have hindered their education and personal development. Without the necessary skills to problem-solve and navigate life’s difficulties, these individuals often lash out through delinquent behaviour.

In responding to the YCPC survey, former Supervisor Bob Lee Siu-chui pointed out that most respondents came from healthy families, and not from the stereotypical background of poverty and broken families. She attributed some of their behaviours to “poor communication within the family.” What the survey pointed out was that the primary motivating factor of young people getting involved in crime was money, and the support that came from associating with a peer group or gang.

A Pair of Sneakers

This is not to say that poverty and broken homes do not play a role. In another story, a young boy Ah-tin was caught stealing a pair of sneakers. Referred to us under the Police Superintendent’s Discretion Scheme, I made a home visit and found that Ah-tin was living with his grandmother in a subdivided flat of less than 150 square feet. With only a bunk bed and limited space for daily activities, it was no surprise that Ah-tin longed for more.

His question, “When will I finally be able to move into public housing?” stuck with me. His father, still in Mainland China without a permit to come to Hong Kong, was unable to care for his son and his grandmother, growing older, struggled to keep up with the demands of raising a young boy. I realised that this was not just a case of petty theft. Behind Ah-tin’s actions lay deep financial instability and a fractured family structure.

A Role to Play

As front-line workers, our work continues beyond bars too. For many of these young offenders, when they leave correctional facilities, the road to reintegration is fraught with obstacles. Lacking savings and family support, they often find themselves struggling with basic daily necessities. We, like them, are very aware that these challenges have the potential to lead them back to the negative influences that brought them to this point in the first place.

While the Correctional Services Department offers some vocational and skills training to help young offenders build a better future, the support they receive after release – usually about a year – is insufficient for their long-term reintegration. What these young people need is ongoing assistance, particularly in areas like family relationships, employment, education, and psychological support.

Society’s role is pivotal here. Rehabilitated youths encounter significant barriers when job hunting, particularly when filling out applications that ask about criminal records. Oftentimes, they face rejection before even being granted an interview, because of the negative stereotype that persists among employers. This exacerbates the stigma of identity that they already have, increases negative thoughts, and the inability to escape traditional viewpoints that have long been held.

We all have a responsibility to these young people and the social welfare sector must take the lead in establishing comprehensive aftercare services. These services should cater to the physical, mental, and emotional development of rehabilitated youth, giving them the tools they need to rebuild their lives and connect positively with society.

The government, along with the private sector and public organisations, can also help in eliminating the discrimination experienced by young offenders by hiring rehabilitated youth for short-term positions or offering them internships. The government could also review privacy laws and provide employers with guidance on whether they should require criminal record information from job applicants.

Society also needs to support rehabilitated youth in exploring the meaning of life, helping them set life goals, enhancing their motivation to change, encouraging them to embrace their past efforts and successes, and strengthening their sense of personal worth.

Change Happens

Even today, Na-na still has the photo of Ho-jai and his father taken outside the courthouse. “I often bring it, sharing a wry laugh with his father, as we reflect on Ho-jai’s transformation from a troubled youth into a positive young man. We are both so proud of him, as he has returned to school, and works hard on his studies,” said Na-na.

One of the key factors in Ho-jai’s complete turnaround, I would say, has been family intervention and positive communication. The daily interaction between him and his father has evolved from constant bickering and rarely discussing personal matters, to being able to smile and take photos together, and eventually discovering new life goals through positive conversations.

As social workers, we hope that young people hold the belief that, even if they make mistakes, they can change their future by learning from those mistakes, recognising their goals, and rediscovering their inner drive. Young people who lose their way need society’s acceptance and support. The more people we have with them on this journey, the stronger the “safety net” becomes, offering them a secure environment to grow.

Unfortunately, sometimes we don’t get the results we want to see. Recently, Ah-tin has drifted back into negative circles, frequenting bars and falling in with his gangster friends. When we saw him again, he had changed, from the way he dressed to how he spoke. But we haven’t given up. We’re still following up with him to help him find another way, because we believe, despite everything, that people have the potential to change. ■