As escalating political turmoil cast a dark shadow over the financial and commercial center, the collective desire for restoring a stable political and social environment was on the rise.

A campaign that called for sacking lawmakers advocating "mutual destruction" collected more than 2.18 million signatures in November 2020. In an earlier movement last June, about 1.65 million people signed a petition to oppose foreign interference in Hong Kong affairs.

Nicholas Muk, 29, a teacher at the Pui Kiu Middle School in the Eastern District, witnessed how street violence and political instability had impacted schools and young people in recent years and could still feel the pinch, even now.

"I saw classes suspended, campuses maliciously politicized and minors involved in the disturbances during that time," he said, calling for a stable environment for education so that his students can keep their minds on studying and developing healthy values.

The voice of the Hong Kong people was heard.

During the ongoing fourth annual session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, national lawmakers are deliberating a draft decision on improving the electoral system of the HKSAR.

The riot and turbulence that occurred in the Hong Kong society reveals that the existing electoral system in the HKSAR has obvious loopholes and deficiencies, Wang Chen, vice chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, said when introducing the draft decision last week.