The city’s embattled leader Carrie Lam appears to believe, based on her 2019 policy address, that she can simply ignore the protests roiling our streets. The issues that have brought millions out demonstrating are either swept aside in her speech — or dangerously re-introduced (Article 23) — or the solutions proposed are so weak in aggregate as to be downright useless (unaffordable housing). After reading this policy address nobody can have any illusion that our Chief Executive is not the Communist Party’s creature.
Ms Lam entered the Legislative Council chamber looking inscrutable in a pink, high-necked dress with matching pastel, black-edged jacket. She faced black-shirted Democrats shouting, heckling and waving placards showing Ms Lam with bloodied hands. Some legislative councillors wore Xi Jinping masks in defiance of the new emergency regulation. Miss Lam faced the tumult in our parliament as security men moved on the out-of-order Democrats for a few minutes. Then she withdrew. Later the Chief Executive appeared in a secure location before TV cameras, looking composed, to give her address flanked by flags of the HKSAR and Communist China.
One of the first initiatives she announced was a plan to introduce a total ban on electronic cigarettes. Then she discussed Hong Kong’s situation under “one country two systems” saying the territory is an inalienable part of the People’s Republic and as Chief Executive she is responsible to the Central Government. On Article 23, Ms Lam said Hong Kong has a constitutional requirement to introduce it and she will listen to views and explore ways on how to bring it into law.
Regarding universal suffrage for election of the Chief Executive, Ms Lam merely said she understood the aspiration of the community but “I cannot ignore the reality and rashly embark on political reform as this will divert the attention of our society from development.” Translation: universal suffrage is shelved.
On housing, Ms Lam said, “70 per cent of the housing units on the Government’s newly developed land will be for public housing.” The provision of housing for people of all levels of income was the Government’s responsibility, then she noted that three types of housing projects would provide a total of 7426 flats.
Artificial island development off Lantau will proceed near Kau Yi Chau and Hei Ling Chau as well as coastal areas near Tuen Mun, taking 20 to 30 years and potentially housing more than one million. She spoke of the development of an “Aerotropolis” on a Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities island at Chek Lap Kok along with the third runway. The new artificial islands off Lantau will enable creation of 340,000 new jobs. Brownfield sites must be a major part of housing development, but it is not an easy option and is fraught with difficulties. A total of 540 hectares are being planned for development. Revitalisation of industrial buildings for transitional housing is another sector the Government is working to expand.
On “Smart City”, more than 70 initiatives are underway including eID, smart lampposts, a revamped Government cloud infrastructure and a new big data analytics platform. The Government will soon introduce a bill to set up a Do-not-call Register so people can be protected from telemarketers. To enable 5G services, the Government is planning to release sufficient radio spectrum to mobile service providers from next year. The Government will facilitate 5G roll-out by ensuring base stations are widely distributed over the territory. Fibre-based networks will be provided to outlying districts and islands. Wide-ranging initiatives for the development of Chinese medicine services are in progress.
Elderly people with financial difficulties will be helped by the age for eligibility for the Old Age Living Allowance being dropped from 70 to 65. Eligibility for Working Family Allowances will be expanded. On the Mandatory Provident Fund. Ms Lam said to enhance employee’s retirement protection, the practice of “offsetting” severance payment and long service payments with MPF benefits will be abolished. On maternity leave the Government will expand the statutory ML from the current 10 weeks to 14 weeks. Employers will be required to increase ML pay. The Government is working on plans to enhance child care schemes and co-parenting arrangements.
Support for ethnic minorities will be improved by working with NGOs, schools and Government agencies. The law against discrimination will be further advanced by the end of this year. Recommendations include action against discrimination against breast-feeding, racial bias, sex identity or disability. Studies are ongoing into whether the legislation ought to be drawn up to protect people of different sexual orientations and transgenders against discrimination.
To improve traffic flow, the Government plans from January to lower the tolls at the Western Harbour Crossing while increasing those at the Central and Eastern Harbour tunnels.
On air quality Ms Lam said roadside pollutants over the past five years have been reduced by about 30 per cent. Further air quality improvement measures include tightening the emission standards for motorcycles, phasing our of certain diesel commercial vehicles, retrofitting buses with catalytic reduction systems and wider use of electric vehicles.
Regarding waste reduction and marine conservation, Ms Lam said the Government will press ahead with Municipal Solid Waste charging, which aims to change the wasteful behaviour of everyone in Hong Kong. A bill will be introduced in Legco shortly. On plastic pollution the Government will take the lead inculcating a “bring your own bottle” culture, banning plastic straws and poly-foam containers. The Government will study an outright ban on disposable plastic tableware. On climate change ways to encourage renewable energy are being developed include encouragement of solar panels on roofs, reservoirs and landfills.
The Government is exploring greater penalties for acts of cruelty towards animals and introducing a “duty of care” for people looking after animals. An Animal Watchers Scheme is to be introduced by the police in the coming year.
Enhancement of the waterfront area in the harbour is progressing with walkways for the public linked up and developed with varying themes. Plans to revitalise historic buildings have resulted in 19 projects going ahead.
At the end of her address, in paragraph 321, Ms Lam finally turns to Hong Kong’s unrest. She calls it “rekindling hope for Hong Kong”. She puts her faith in the Belt and Road Initiative, Greater Bay development and “our country will continue to provide staunch support for Hong Kong” to help us rise to the challenges and inject new impetus into Hong Kong development.
What riots? What political crisis?
In her 2019 policy address, Carrie Lam made it abundantly clear that she will not speak up for the people of Hong Kong if it means going against her Communist Party masters.
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