Former leader Leung Chun-ying has called for improving the “quality” of Hong Kong’s young people, starting with strengthening national education in schools and universities.

Leung, now a vice-chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, the country’s top political advisory body, on Sunday said it would be academic to discuss Hong Kong’s role in contributing to the development of the country if the quality of the city’s population was in question.

“If Hong Kong wants to continue upgrading the quality of life for its people, and make contributions to the country, we only have our people to count on,” he said. “The quality of our people will decide the quality of Hong Kong and the value of the city to the country.”