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HONG KONG: The Hong Kong government’s priority is to “restore the political system from chaos,” Executive Director Carrie Lam said in her annual policy speech on Wednesday (November 25), which did not take successful steps to boost the economy or provide a home. crisis.
Lam’s lengthy speech to the city legislature was delayed more than a month to accommodate his high-profile trip to Beijing to discuss how China can help with the financial center’s economic recovery.
But after briefly mentioning that the city will contribute to efforts for further integration of the Greater Bay Area, a region that includes Hong Kong, Macao and nine cities in China’s Guangdong province, he devoted much of his speech to the need. to restore order and protect China’s national security.
The role of the central government in the former British colony has been in the limelight, particularly with the imposition of a security law in June after months of protests, the most intense in decades, last year.
READ: Timeline: The Impact of National Security Law in Hong Kong
“In the past year, Hong Kong has experienced the most severe political challenges since returning home,” Lam said. “One of our urgent priorities is to restore … constitutional order and the political system from chaos.”
She accused foreign governments and legislatures of increasing interference in Hong Kong affairs, which she claimed were China’s internal affairs, and that their actions were endangering national security.
Lam said the government will introduce a bill to “improve oath-taking” of public officials and carry out widespread public education “to improve understanding of the rule of law.”
The government will launch programs to educate Hong Kong youth, who were on the front lines of last year’s demonstrations, about respecting China’s national flag and anthem.
Lam spoke at length about prioritizing the “moral development” of young people and strengthening “their sense of national identity and awareness of national security.”
Last year’s protests were sparked in part by fears in Hong Kong that the central government was curtailing the freedoms granted when the city returned to Chinese rule in 1997 under a “one country, two systems” formula.
READ: Next move unclear amid China’s restrictions, Hong Kong Democrat says, but ‘we’ll be back’
Lam, the city’s least popular leader since the handover, delivered her annual political speech via video last year after some opposition lawmakers interrupted the legislative session, taunting her when she began her speech.
He faced no opposition this year, after pro-democracy lawmakers resigned en masse after four of his colleagues were disqualified after the Chinese parliament gave city authorities powers to topple lawmakers without judicial scrutiny. .
LANTAU TOMORROW REFILLED
A plan to build vast artificial islands, costing at least HK $ 624 billion (US $ 80.51 billion), the most expensive infrastructure project in the city, was expected to move forward next year, Lam said. .
The plan calls for the construction of up to 400,000 housing units on 1,700 hectares of reclaimed land between Lantau Island, where the city’s airport is located, and the main island of Hong Kong. It’s backed by high-powered real estate developers including New World Development and Henderson Land.
Lantau Tomorrow Vision was first announced by Lam in his political speech in October 2018, but legislative discussions have been delayed due to social unrest. At the time, residents were expected to move into new homes by 2032.
READ: Hong Kong legislature sits without Democrats after exodus
Additionally, Lam said the government will relax investment limits for real estate investment trusts and eliminate double stamp duty for commercial property transactions. The government had no plan to eliminate the stamp duty on residential properties.
Other economic measures included support for an emblematic floating restaurant and the offer of dental treatment support for the elderly.
The protests and later the novel coronavirus pandemic have hit the city’s economy, with gross domestic product (GDP) for the full year expected to contract 6.1% percent.
