Chief Executive Carrie Lam laid out a lot in her policy address that will delight some people, reassure others and get a few jumping up and down, screaming, “She can’t do that!”
Some titbits to whet appetites:
- Ms Lam hinted that the Government is moving towards banning petrol and diesel-driven private cars
- Vaccines against covid made in China will be used in Hong Kong, but she said nothing about the three vaccines from reputable companies in the U.S. and Europe being bought for Hong Kong people (!)
- She warned “Hong Kong is on the brink of another outbreak” and tougher measures may be necessary
- Ms Lam makes it bluntly clear that her Government is under the control of Beijing and accountable to the CCP
- And, here’s the big one, she hopes Legco will pass a bill on municipal waste charging this year. This will impact every household, business and institution, changing our behaviour for the better because we will have to pay fees for rubbish bags.
Here’s a summary of the policy address pared down to what our readers are most likely to be interested in:
COVID
Travel to and from Guangdong will be normalised when the situation in Hong Kong is stabilised. There will be no quarantine but there will be mutual recognition of health codes. The Government and the private sector are now able to test 100,000 people a day. A new hospital is being built and quarantine and treatment centres set up. To prevent import of cases, people coming into HK “from countries outside China” are being put into 14 days compulsory hotel quarantine. Anyone planning to fly to HK must provide a negative test result before boarding. To break transmission, the Government mandates high-risk groups be tested. Voluntary testing on a wider scale will be introduced “if there is public support”.
NATIONAL SECURITY
Ms Lam emphasised the National People’s Congress and its Standing Committee have the power to supervise implementation of the Basic Law. She laid out the extensive powers of the Chief Executive “who is directly accountable to the CPG”. The legislative exercise on national security is not yet completed. “HK has become an obvious gaping hole in national security and presented significant risks to the country”. She chairs a HK Committee on Safeguarding National Security “that is supervised by and accountable to the CPG”. Ms Lam said she and all committee members will fully cooperate with Beijing’s National Security Adviser, Office of National Security and all agencies set up by China in HK. All officials, councillors and judges must take an oath pledging allegiance to HK and to uphold the Basic Law. If they don’t, they will be legally accountable. Supporting independence is banned.
HOUSING POLICY
She bluntly and rightly said, “this is the crux of many problems faced by HK.” Being able to buy one’s own home is “a matter of social justice”. Despite reporting a lot progress, Ms Lam offers no hope for middle class people to own their own homes in the world’s most unaffordable property market. This is a consequence of Government failure over decades and the unscrupulous behaviour of a handful of super-rich families who rip off their fellow citizens.
Ms Lam said the share of public housing in new projects has been raised from 60 to70 per cent. She mentioned the Green Form Subsidised Home Ownership Scheme, White Form Secondary Market and Starter Homes plus initiatives of the Housing Society and the Urban Renewal Authority. These are all too small scale or inapplicable to the middle class.
A total of 330 hectares of land has been identified for 316,000 housing units over 10 years. New land will be taken from Fanling Golf Course, other areas in Fanling North and Tung Chung, Hung Shiu Kiu and Kai Tak.
Here’s one to applaud — the Government is addressing the appalling shame of caged homes. A task force was set up in April and it will report early next year.
She concluded the housing section, saying, “As Chief Executive, sometimes I need to stand firm in the face of different opinions for a cause in which I believe: meeting HK people’s housing needs is a goal too important to forsake”. Ms Lam, you are a million miles from meeting that goal. The answer, BUZZ suggests, may be public-private partnerships, combining the financial clout of the Government and developers, to build housing on a massive scale with Government-dictated minimum standards and limits on developer profits.
INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORT
Over $100 billion will be spent each year as a boost to the economy. Plans are afoot when the disease is under control to allow “eligible” private cars to use the HK-Macau Bridge and cross the border to and from Guangdong at eastern and western points. The third runway will be commissioned in 2022. Studies are under way on allowing helicopter flights cross border. 5G coverage by mobile networks is expected to reach 90 per cent of our people this year.
Lantau Tomorrow, the enormous project to reclaim land north of Lantau, will go ahead with an initial reclamation of 1000 hectares.
ENVIRONMENT
The two power companies have invested $39 billion in decarbonisation. The Environment Bureau is looking at ceasing sale of fuel-propelled cars. The waste management charging scheme — mentioned above — may be approved by Legco this year. In 10 years HK will reduce carbon emissions by 60 to 70 per cent. We aim, she said, to attain carbon neutrality by 2050.
GENERAL
The Government has spent $300 billion on relief measures this year and has little room left for further such spending. However, $600 million will be made available for the travel industry and its staff. On improving the Harbourfront, Ms Lam said $6.5 billion is being spent on promenades that will soon be 34 kilometres long with new public open space on both sides of the harbour. The amended Race Discrimination Ordinance, enhancing protection for minorities, came into effect in June. Departments are being told to offer services in more languages.
Ms Lam’s address is well worth reading in full. Students, business people, academics, everyone will find something in there of interest and some will see ways to benefit. Go to www.policyaddress.gov.hk
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