Dr Jonathan CHOI Koon-shum (Chairman of the 51st terms of office) August 2019
Amid the political and economic turmoil caused by both internal and external factors, it is all the more important for the HKSAR Government to act as the force that unites all social sectors and work with all social stakeholders to lead our society and economy back on track. We are eager to see the Government come up with a policy blueprint in the new Policy Address to foster the long-term, stable development of Hong Kong.
For two months, Hong Kong has been embroiled in a political crisis of an unprecedented scale. The series of unlawful and violent incidents triggered by the proposed Fugitive Offenders Ordinance amendments has put social order under serious threats and hurt the business environment. Lingering global issues including the uncertainties that remain over Sino-US trade negotiations and the rising possibility of a no-deal Brexit under the new UK prime minister further cloud the prospect of Hong Kong’s economy and warrant grave concerns.
In the face of such vicious challenges, it is our earnest hope that the HKSAR Government will more actively build an open, effective channel for communicating with the public and listen closely to the different voices in society. In fact, the Government should resolutely seek to resolve the various longstanding economic and social problems in the upcoming Policy Address. To drive Hong Kong’s economic development, we also hope the Government will assist local businesses and professional talents in exploring new business opportunities.
Engaging the young generation
Young people hold the future of our society. Unfortunately, the lack of upward social mobility and opportunities has caused grievances among many of them. We hope the Government will try to understand the difficulties facing the young generation and allocate more resources to create career and development opportunities for them.
While the authorities may want to review the current education policies and curriculum in a bid to strengthen the national identity of young people, it is perhaps necessary to reform the “Youth Development Commission” by inviting the participation of youth representatives from different social strata, and building a platform to engage the young generation in social affairs and discourse, particularly when it comes to policies related to this group.
Increasing land supply to improve livelihood
Housing problems not only affect the people of Hong Kong; they also hinder the city’s long-term development. In the previous Policy Address, the Chief Executive suggested that “Lantau Tomorrow Vision” would be beneficial to Hong Kong society. The authorities, however, have decided to postpone the application for funding for conducting studies on the project, as a result of the current political situation. We are worried that this decision may delay the implementation of measures that can address the population growth and the economic needs of the local people.
It is an urgent matter to develop new lands for social needs. In addition to launching studies on “Lantau Tomorrow Vision”, the authorities should increase land supply by all possible means. In particular, the details of the “Land Sharing Pilot Scheme” should be announced as soon as possible, and it is worth looking into the feasibility of turning revitalized industrial buildings into transitional housing.
Staying resilient and holding onto opportunities
As for the external environment, the impact of Sino-US trade friction on various sectors is gradually emerging. According to the provisional data released by the Government, economic growth is nearing a 10-year low in the second quarter of 2019, registering a meager increase of 0.6%, same as that of the first quarter and a 0.3% decline year on year. Total exports have also dropped for eight months in a row. We hope the HKSAR Government can provide greater support for local businesses to ride out this challenging time, and offer specific support to sectors affected by the recent social conflicts.
It is also possible to leverage the accelerated development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area and the “Belt and Road Initiative” to encourage local businesses to enter into regional co-operation, allowing Hong Kong to take full advantage of its competitive edge in finance, commerce, innovative technology and professional services. In the long run, it is important to help Hong Kong businesses become more resilient and adaptive to changes in the economic environment.
Amid the political and economic turmoil caused by both internal and external factors, it is all the more important for the HKSAR Government to act as the force that unites all social sectors and work with all social stakeholders to lead our society and economy back on track. We are eager to see the Government come up with a policy blueprint in the new Policy Address to foster the long-term, stable development of Hong Kong.
