CY Leung's policy address lacks vision to transform Hong Kong
Regina Ip says the chief executive's policy address, though admirably responsive to livelihood concerns, notably lacks a plan to propel Hong Kong to the next stage of its development
Every year, in the run-up to the delivery of the policy address, political parties make a mad dash to meet the chief executive or demonstrate outside the government's headquarters to press their demands for sundry measures to improve people's livelihood. Demands for affordable housing have topped the list, followed by demands for more support for the working poor, more hospitals, more homes for the elderly, and more public funding for preschool education, to name a few.
The long wish list is to be expected.
The chief executive cannot be faulted for failing to heed the people's concerns. Whereas in his first policy address, Leung Chun-ying mostly outlined his vision for Hong Kong and the underlying considerations for his economic policy, this year, he plunged into specific measures to support the economy and assist the poor, the elderly and the disadvantaged right from the start.
Leung also gave priority to nurturing the young. In the chapter devoted to upgrading the educational and skills level of the younger generation, efforts were made to take into account the learning needs of students of different cohorts and abilities. Except for a lack of reference to inadequate international school places, Leung deserves credit for comprehensively responding to miscellaneous demands for greater support for education.
The chief executive's agreement to provide up to 100 scholarships for outstanding local students to study at the world's best universities is noteworthy. Hong Kong students' presence in the world's top universities is increasingly being overtaken by a growing intake from mainland China and South Korea.
Although the scholarship programme will not yield immediate results, it provides a boost for bright local students unable to study abroad because of a lack of funds. More publicly funded overseas scholarships will help provide equal opportunities. Over time, such a programme will help Hong Kong to groom a pool of truly globally competitive, top-notch talent.
The policy address naturally had its share of critics, ranging from those who fear the rapid escalation of recurrent public expenditure and the need for tax hikes, to those who complained that the poverty-relief package neglects the middle class. Yet middle-class stalwarts who pulled themselves up by their bootstraps have often said they do not need any help from the government. All they want is a sound education system and a self-restraining government that refrains from interfering in the economy.
