Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying delivered his maiden policy address [1] on Wednesday - yet some Hongkongers complained that he barely announced anything new.
Netizens took to their keyboards to vent their frustration at what some called a disappointing two-hour, 12-minute address that focused on housing supply, social welfare, environment and waste management, among other topics. Some thought the speech posed more questions than it answered, while others thought important issues were brushed aside.
Here, SCMP.com looks at the online reaction to Leung's speech.
ON HOUSING
What Leung said [2]:
The top priority of the current-term Government is to tackle the housing problem... Our policy objectives for housing are to (i) assist grassroots families to secure public housing to meet their basic housing needs; (ii) assist the public to choose accommodation according to their affordability and personal circumstances, and encourage those who can afford it to buy their own homes; (iii) provide subsidised home ownership flats on top of PRH so as to build a progressive housing ladder; and (iv) maintain the healthy and steady development of the private property market, with priority to be given to meet Hong Kong permanent residents' needs.
What Hongkongers said:
It seems that one of CY's solution to quell with #HK [3]'s land problem is to turn all land of different uses into residential areas.
— Grace Tsoi (@gracehw) January 16, 2013 [4]
@scmp_news [5] - Will there be any land left in HK? Leung seems to be redeveloping every single scrap of land he can get his lands on
— Samantha W-M (@swmayow) January 16, 2013 [6]
LIVE: #hk [7] lower class:"#policyaddress [8] Is a FAIL"disappointed about housing, welfare, labour and retirement plan twitter.com/jj_ngo/status/… [9]
— Jennifer Ngo (@jj_ngo) January 16, 2013 [10]
'supply shortage heart of problem'. No it isn't, as established by @scmp_news [5] Jake Van Der Kamp. 250k more homes than hholds #policyaddress [8]
— Steve Dunthorne (@Steve_Dunthorne) January 16, 2013 [11]
Steve Dunthorne and Jennifer Ngo are journalists at the South China Morning Post.
ON POVERTY
What Leung said [12]:
The Government will reinforce and enhance the existing three pillars, namely, private savings and family support, the social security system, and the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) System. The Old Age Living Allowance (OALA), to be launched in April 2013, will be an additional tier of financial assistance between the CSSA and the Old Age Allowance (OAA).
What Hongkongers said:
Dumping the poor and elderly into the NT? #policyaddress [8]
— Glenn Austin Green (@glennhk) January 16, 2013 [13]
ON HEALTH CARE
What Leung said [14]:
The Government allocated additional funding of about $2.5 billion to the HA last year, raising its annual recurrent subvention to $40.4 billion. We will continue to set aside resources to strengthen our public healthcare system and enhance its service quality. The HA will add about 150 acute patient beds in the coming year. On top of this, as I mentioned earlier, we will add 130 convalescent beds and explore the option of converting Wong Chuk Hang Hospital into an institution with convalescent and infirmary services.
What Hongkongers said:
@thenewdeal [15] @fullofbalogna [16] Sort of... HK govt has been trying to gut public health care in favour of private docs for last 15 years.
— daaitoulaam (@daaitoulaam) January 16, 2013 [17]
#policyaddress [8] - hospitals being added, but where will the doctors and nurses come from?
— Glenn Austin Green (@glennhk) January 16, 2013 [18]
ON ARTS AND CULTURE
What Leung said [19]:
With strong support of the Government, local arts groups and organisations have flourished in recent years, leading to a growing demand for arts administrators. The phased completion of cultural facilities of the WKCD will add to the demand. Additional funding of $150 million will be allocated to strengthen the training of arts administrators with different levels of experience in the next five years, including internships, further studies and diversified professional training.
What Hongkongers said:
How about cutting the amount of guidelines that film-makers have to adhere to just to get funding for their films. #PolicyAddress [20]
— Samantha W-M (@swmayow) January 16, 2013 [21]
ON ENVIRONMENT
What Leung said: [22]
We must phase out old diesel commercial vehicles with greater financial incentives while putting in place more stringent regulatory measures. To meet the 2015 and 2020 emission reduction targets, I propose setting aside $10 billion as subsidies to owners of over 80 000 heavily polluting pre-Euro and Euro I to III diesel commercial vehicles in order to progressively phase out these vehicles having regard to their pollution level. The scheme will significantly reduce the overall emissions of particulates and nitrogen oxides by 80% and 30% respectively. We also propose to set a service life limit for newly registered diesel commercial vehicles at 15 years.
We will help franchised buses, taxis and minibuses reduce their emissions through retrofitting or replacing catalytic converters for these vehicles where necessary in the coming two to three years. In addition, the Government will continue to take the lead in using more electric vehicles, which have zero emission, and solicit participation from public bodies as well as leading enterprises. For example, the Government has set aside funding for franchised bus companies to try out electric buses. The Pilot Green Transport Fund is also subsidising the testing of electric taxis, coaches and goods vehicles. I hope that green transport can be widely used in Hong Kong.
What Hongkongers said:
#policyaddress [8] any"stick" with those diesel vehicle subsidies?
— Glenn Austin Green (@glennhk) January 16, 2013 [23]
CY's #policyaddress [8] promises much-needed bus route rationalisation to reduce roadside pollution, traffic is.gd/LOpk2o [24]
— Christopher DeWolf (@dewolfleloup) January 16, 2013 [25]
ON EDUCATION
What Leung said: [22]
We will work in collaboration with the education sector to tackle the impact of a changing student population. To address the transient decline in Secondary One student population in the coming few years, the Education Bureau (EDB) will implement a series of measures to help preserve our schools, the teaching force and the strengths of our education sector. These measures will help stabilise the teaching force and balance the needs and concerns of different stakeholders.
What Hongkongers said:
why only classes in putonghua and english for ethnic minority kids? what about canto? #hk [7] #policyaddress [8]
— Yuen Chan (@xinwenxiaojie) January 16, 2013 [26]