Brickbats and bouquets: What people will likely think of John Lee’s first big speech

^{Chief Executive John Lee}

The few masochists who tackle the new Chief Executive’s first policy address must plough through much genuflecting and kowtowing to our mainland masters before they get to the good stuff. Sixty-five-year-old John Lee, a Roman Catholic who until recently was a UK citizen, trots out one country two systems, rule by patriots and the wonderfulness of President Xi through paragraph after paragraph after eye-glazing paragraph. Then comes the useful news. Some of it you will like; some of it you will hate.

Here are highlights:

BOUQUETS

• 700 electric buses and 3000 electric taxis are to be on our roads within five years. Trials with hydrogen-powered buses and electric trucks will be held. Municipal solid waste charges will be introduced next year. This will impact everyone because you will pay for your rubbish bags, which should push people to improve their habits. Hygiene black spots in 400 locations have been cleaned up. Sewage discharge into the harbour is to be cut by half within two years.

^{Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts to get new campus}

• The Hong Kong Academy for the Performing Arts is to get a new campus in the Northern Metropolis. Arts and culture facilities will be laudably expanded. New sports will be promoted, eg three-on-three basketball, wall climbing, skateboarding. A new sports centre is to be built at Whitehead, Ma On Shan. A round-the-island trail should be 90 per cent complete within five years.
• On health, My Lee said there will be a switch in emphasis from treatment and hospitals to prevention and primary care. The government will subsidise hypertension and diabetes sufferers who embrace private care. The voucher scheme for the elderly will rise from $2000 a year to 2500.
• Child abuse: the number of cases was distressing, wrote Mr Lee, a former Deputy Commissioner of Police and family man* with two boys. Law enforcement will be stepped up. “Independent people” will conduct unannounced inspections.
• 1.1 million elders are now getting financial assistance. Carers allowance will go from $2400 monthly to 3000. Five percent of new public housing projects will be set aside for care homes. The number of elderly in care homes now stands at 75,000, rising by 6200 in five years.
• Care teams will support youth, minorities and elderly in all districts. Underprivileged youngsters from poor homes such as subdivided flats will receive mentorship, money and care.
• A pilot scheme to draw private developers into public housing developments will be initiated. Units will be sold at discounted rates. (HONG KONG BUZZ has recommended this for years.) Ways to streamline use of brownfield sites and old industrial buildings for housing will be brought into effect.

BRICKBATS

^{Will we lose some of our Country Parks?}

• Mr Lee emphasised national education — read political indoctrination. A train-the-trainers programme will ensure the “right” messages were being spread in schools.
• He admitted the workforce has shrunk by 140,000 in the past two years and detailed programmes to attract new talent.
• 255 hectares of Green Belt are to be rezoned for housing. Critics fear shrinkage of the country parks. The 1000-hectare reclamation off Lantau will go ahead.

OTHER NEWS

• Infrastructure: A Northern Metropolis Highway will be built from Tin Shiu Wai to Kwu Tong North. A new Shatin Bypass will connect Taipo and Kowloon West. A tunnel will link Tseung Kwan O and Yau Tong. The Tseung Kwan O line will be extended to “Area 137”. There will be a Central rail link from Kam Tin to Kowloon Tong and another new rail link from Hong Kong to Shenzhen.
• 72,000 private housing units will be built over the next five years. 50,000 units will be in Tseung Kwan O. Light public housing to be constructed will total 30,000 units, all of which must be “at least 26 sq metres”. Housing will be developed at Kwun Tong North-Fanling, Hung Shui Kiu-Ha Tsuen and Yuen Long South.