A government-friendly legislator yesterday made a provocative plea to have the annual Policy Address scrapped.
Independent legislator Bernard Charnwut Chan said only a 'masochist' would put himself through an 'outdated ritual' which invariably invited criticism. 'Let's have no more annual policy addresses . . . It encourages a build-up of unrealistic expectations among many people and groups in the community,' he said.
The address, Mr Chan said, invariably prompted interest groups and political parties to make impractical proposals or to push for big hand-outs.
'Then, on the big day, the Chief Executive stands up in this chamber, and he tells us the awful truth - he cannot work miracles. Almost immediately, we have all this artificial outrage from the Government's critics. In their disappointment, people shout at the Chief Executive and tell him to resign,' he said.
'Only a masochist would put himself through this . . . All in all, this policy speech served no useful purpose.' But Emily Lau Wai-hing, of the Frontier, said it was common practice for political leaders to give regular addresses.
Meanwhile, Yeung Sum, of the Democrats, asked if Mr Chan preferred the Government to make policies in the dark without community input.
