About 100 officers from five disciplined services took to the streets in a silent protest to condemn the government's contrasting handling of pay cuts and pay rises. The protest's organiser - the Government Disciplined Services General Union - said it had taken the government less than a month to propose a pay cut of 5.38 per cent for senior civil servants after a government pay-trend review was released in May, but it had still refused to implement a grade-structure review for the disciplined services - released in November - which recommended a pay rise for long service at the lower levels.
It is understandable that the disciplined services express their grievances. They may want to fight for their benefits so they took to the street. In a sense, if police officers take to the street, it is embarrassing to see, as they are from discipline teams.
If the police stage a march to voice their opinions, it would affect the image of Hong Kong. The police are part of the government. Although an economic downturn exists, the civil servants should share the economic pain with the public. To take to the streets in protest is not a good way to express grievances. I think discussion is the best way to deal with disputes. It is rare for the police to take to the streets.
I think this incident shows there is a crisis of governance in the government. The government should pay attention to this. I would not be happy to see officers from the disciplined services marching the streets in protest.
Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen says the government will adopt 'new thinking' to tackle the land-shortage problem, to enable the development of six new economic pillars that will help turn Hong Kong into a knowledge-based city. It will reserve two sites in urban areas for private universities and four sites for private hospitals. I welcome the government developing six new economic pillars. There are fewer industries in Hong Kong these days and there are more jobless. This could help Hong Kong to find a new way to improve the economy.
I agree that the government should hire mainland talent to help Hong Kong. I also hope the government hires local people to improve the job market, as well. I welcome the government's move to reserve two sites in urban areas for private universities and four sites for private hospitals. I suggest the government build hospitals in Tuen Mun and Tin Shui Wai as there are many people living there. As the development of the six new economic pillars needs a large amount of money, the government should carry out land use planning more carefully. I am worried that other places near Hong Kong are growing more competitive than Hong Kong. I think Hongkongers should build up more knowledge and sharpen their skills in order to avoid being overtaken by other cities.
