Executive Council convenor Lam Woon-kwong defends One Belt, One Road moves

Executive Council convenor Lam Woon-kwong has come to the defence of the administration’s controversial “One Belt, One Road” initiatives including generous scholarships for students from foreign countries, urging Hongkongers to be more outward-looking.

The measures announced by Leung Chun-ying in his policy address last week to capitalise on Beijing’s grand scheme of economic expansion have triggered dissatisfaction among some Hongkongers, who criticise the chief executive for giving an over-emphasis on it at the expense of imminent livelihoood problems.

“’One Belt, One Road’ is very important to Hong Kong,” Lam, who is known for occasionally breaking ranks with Leung, sided with him on the issue in an interview with Cable TV. “We are the city that is the most well-armed with talent to develop ties with the 60 some countries. We shouldn’t just stand on the side and let the opportunities go by.”

“Remember what made Hong Kong grow in the past? It’s trade. If we don’t do it, Shanghai will overtake us.”

The “One Belt, One Road” strategy, first unveiled in 2013 by President Xi Jinping and highlighted in the nation’s 13th five-year plan last year, has two legs: the New Silk Road economic belt linking China and Europe; and the Maritime Silk Road linking it to Southeast Asia, Africa and Europe. It spans 65 countries on three continents, including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Russia, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Among the belt-and-road measures unveiled by Leung last week, a HK$1 billion scholarship to attract students from those countries have drawn much criticism. Lawmakers, for example, say money should be spent to help students taking non-subsidised associate degrees.