Government insists it will not cap population
Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor told a public consultation on population policy that it was not the time for Hong Kong to cap numbers as the city was facing the problems of an ageing population and a shrinking workforce.
The government made clear yesterday that it had ruled out capping the population and tightening the screening of one-way-permit applications.
"It is not appropriate to put a limit on our population at this moment, but I am not saying this will be long-term if it meant watching Hong Kong's population growing without control in the future decade," said Lam, who leads the steering committee on population policy.
The panel is charged with finding ways to build a socially inclusive and cohesive society.
The second district public forum on population was held in Tuen Mun and was disrupted several times by protesters calling for a population cap and tightening on screening for one-way-permit applications. But Lam said the daily limit of 150 one-way permits for mainlanders to settle in the city would be a major source of population growth.
"I notice social discussions have reflected that these should be maintained for family reunion purposes," she added.