Democrats and the Civic Party said they were disappointed by the chief executive's lack of vision and avoidance of controversial issues, but most lawmakers welcomed initiatives to help parents and reduce pollution. The critics attacked Donald Tsang Yam-kuen for not doing enough to ensure the well-being of underprivileged workers, saying a voluntary minimum-wage charter would not work and would only cause them to suffer more. Audrey Eu Yuet-mee, leader of the Civic Party, said steps to reduce air pollution were too small and measures to help parents struggling with their children's education were half-baked. 'He lacked vision and avoided most of the crucial issues people of Hong Kong are concerned with. He was merely waffling,' she said. Her colleague, Alan Leong Kah-kit, who is planning to run against Mr Tsang in the chief executive election, said the chief executive had handed in 'a blank sheet' on how to revive the economy, increase democracy and build a harmonious society. While the Democratic Party praised Mr Tsang for introducing subsidies for kindergarten pupils and taking bigger steps to cut vehicle emissions, its vice-chairman, Albert Ho Chun-yan, said Mr Tsang had shown he was not a visionary leader. 'He did not come up with any long-term vision. He only said he was an optimist and that Hong Kong is a blessed land. This is very disappointing.' The Frontier legislator Emily Lau Wai-hing was disappointed the policy address contained nothing on constitutional development. 'There isn't even any word on universal suffrage,' she said. 'So don't say that this is what he calls, 'Always people first'.' James Tien Pei-chun, chairman of the Liberal Party, said the initiatives, while limited, were welcome. 'I have long expected this, because his term as chief executive has only eight more months to run. What he said after the main speech was more interesting.' After his speech, Mr Tsang said he had never imagined he would become chief executive. 'He will only consider his big plans after getting re-elected,' Mr Tien said. Ma Lik, chairman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, said the policy address was pragmatic, but inadequate. Mr Tsang had not shown himself proactive enough on issues such as infrastructure development, he said. 'We understand it has to do with [Mr Tsang's] term ending soon, but we believe the government could have done more.'