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By Billy Wong
Last summer, our organisation, the Hong Kong Committee on Children’s Rights, hosted a forum titled “I Have Something to Say,” providing a platform for those aged 10 to 17 to voice their thoughts. Topics were unrestricted, as long as they were child-related and lawful.
The very first issue raised was: “Hong Kong needs to establish a Children’s Day to raise public awareness of children’s rights.”
Children running around in a playground in Hong Kong. File photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.The young boys who raised the issue were sixth graders who, at the time, would be heading off to different secondary schools after the summer break.
They made a demand on behalf of all children in Hong Kong. One of them said, “Adults often use holidays like Valentine’s Day and Christmas to organise fun celebrations. Why is there so little promotion for Children’s Day?”
There is no universally agreed date for Children’s Day around the world.
In mainland China, June 1 is designated as Children’s Day, giving students under 14 a day off from school. Celebrations include large-scale group performances, school fairs, gift-giving, and parent-child activities. Taiwan’s Children’s Day falls on April 4, which is a national holiday. It features a host of fun, family-friendly activities and sporting events.
Both Japan and South Korea celebrate Children’s Day on May 5 – a public holiday. In Japan, carp streamers are hung, symbolising courage and growth, while in South Korea, there are large-scale events across the country.
In contrast, Children’s Day is usually just another day in the classroom for students in Hong Kong, though some schools and NGOs choose to celebrate it on either April 4 or June 1.
The kids at our forum were not speaking solely from a self-interested perspective. They argued that establishing a Children’s Day would be a concrete implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which came into force in Hong Kong in 1994.
They pointed out that “many countries use Children’s Day to host legal awareness campaigns, promote the prohibition of child labour, improve educational resources, organise visits to parliaments to learn about democratic systems… and so on.”
The young boys weren’t just clamouring for playtime. They had done their homework. I silently marvelled.
Whether it’s April 4, May 5, June 1, or November 20 – the last being World Children’s Day, marking the UN General Assembly’s adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959 and of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989 – Hong Kong should formally designate Children’s Day as an official holiday, joining its East Asian counterparts.
The boys conducted a survey at their primary school in Tin Shui Wai and found that only half of their schoolmates knew about Children’s Day.
Students in Hong Kong. File photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.“Today’s children face academic pressure and excessive use of electronic devices, leading to a year-on-year rise in mental health issues such as depression and anxiety,” they said.
“Official Children’s Day celebrations can provide dedicated relaxation opportunities for children, such as schools organising fun activities and families arranging parent-child interactions, helping children reduce stress and cultivate positive emotions,” they suggested.
“Children’s Day should also draw society’s attention to the circumstances of vulnerable children (such as those living in poverty, with disabilities, or experiencing abuse), mobilising donations, providing resources, and fostering empathy for their situations.”
‘Crucial opportunity’
Holidays need not be merely dazzling celebrations. As the boys said, “It’s a crucial opportunity for society to examine children’s rights and invest in the future. Its significance extends far beyond a single holiday – from individual growth to societal progress – requiring joint efforts from governments, families, and educators.”
Shouldn’t we adults feel ashamed of ourselves? Why has Hong Kong never placed Children’s Day on the agenda for discussion as a school holiday, public holiday, or statutory holiday? Or has society grown accustomed to treating “children” as mere decoration, where they appear only as embellishments and photo opportunities at festive occasions?
On many critical issues – even those directly affecting children, such as school lunch programmes, school governance, or the recently enacted Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance – society uses “age and maturity” as an excuse to exclude children’s voices, completely violating the Convention on the Rights of the Child’s principle of child participation.
Children have already voiced their evidence-based and heartfelt appeal. The ball is now in our court to show that they mean more to us than mere decorative value in our marketing campaigns.
I believe the Hong Kong government and the Commission on Children will welcome this vision and lead the way in seriously considering the establishment of a holiday dedicated to Hong Kong’s 970,000 children under the age of 18.
Ultimately, by listening to children’s voices, we can build a culture that recognises them as individuals and as a distinct group, and learn to engage with their rights, rather than resist them. In doing so, we can set an example and help cultivate a generation of responsible and reflective decision-makers.
Billy Wong is the executive secretary of the Hong Kong Committee on Children’s Rights.
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