| I live in Hong Kong, a place known for its clean streets, efficient public services, and a strong sense of community. It’s a city where people work hard, study hard, and look out for one another. In such a place, rights aren’t just ideas from books; they’re lived every day in classrooms, family homes, and neighborhoods. Rights help us feel safe, respected, and free to learn, grow, and share our thoughts with others.
Rights, as I understand it, are protections we all share. They promise safety, education, respect, and a voice. In class, we discussed that a human right isn’t unlimited. It comes with responsibilities and boundaries that keep everyone safe and treated fairly. I might have the right to speak up in class, but I shouldn’t spread harm or hate. I should balance my freedom with my classmates’ rights so the whole group can learn and grow together.
When we discuss children’s rights, it seems as though the school bell rings for everyone’s development. Children have the right to education, protection from harm, and a say in matters that affect them. Yet there’s a big job on the other side, too: parents and guardians guide, teach, and support us. Parental guidance isn’t about crushing independence; it’s about helping us build good judgment and responsibility so we can earn more freedom as we mature.
In Hong Kong, laws shape how rights work in daily life. For example, the Basic Law and the protections in the Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance echo many international ideas about dignity, liberty, and equality. Schools follow guidelines that protect students’ safety and right to learn, while families navigate decisions with care for the child’s best interests. The Civil Code and common law traditions in Hong Kong also highlight the duties that accompany rights—you have a right to education, but you also have a duty to respect others and comply with school rules.
Religious ideas are part of the everyday mix, too. Many faiths teach that loving others and respecting parents are core duties. The Quran urges kindness to parents while also reminding believers to act justly and with wisdom (Quran 31:14-15; 17:23-24). The Bible speaks of honoring your father and mother, which many families interpret as a call to listen, learn, and act responsibly (Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 6:1-3). The Buddhist and Confucian traditions in Hong Kong emphasize respect for elders, humility, and the duty to nurture the community. These beliefs don’t replace laws; they guide how we treat each other and how we balance rights with responsibilities.
Hong Kong’s practical reality blends law and faith with everyday life. The Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance protects personal information, and school anti-bullying policies uphold students’ safety and dignity. The Family Court’s focus on the best interests of the child reminds us that decisions about a child’s welfare must consider safety, education, and emotional well-being. These rules show that rights empower us to be safe and heard, but they don’t excuse harm or neglect. Likewise, children’s rights push for protection and opportunities, but they don’t erase the guidance parents provide to help kids grow into capable, independent adults.
What about children’s responsibility and respect for parents? Rights come with duties: studying, telling the truth, treating others well, and listening when adults explain reasons behind rules. Respect for parents isn’t blind obedience; it’s about understanding their love, experience, and the hopes they have for a safer, brighter future for you. In my friends’ conversations and in class debates, we try to bridge our growing independence with the wisdom our families share.
In short, rights and duties aren’t enemies; they’re teammates. Hong Kong’s laws protect us; religious and moral guidance helps us choose wisely; and parents’ guidance helps shape us into responsible, caring people who can still assert our rights.
Writer:
Interactor Muhammad Tazimul Islam
(Secondary Three Student of the La Salle College, Hong Kong).
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