To give or not to give is the ultimate question of this year's controversial budget. The government's dramatic U-turn to withdraw a proposal to inject HK$6,000 into Mandatory Provident Fund accounts and replace it with cash giveaways didn't placate public anger.
One explanation is that our deep-rooted, protracted social conflict has reached a critical point. So, no matter what the budget offers, the voices of discontent will not subside. Conversely, public anger has been building up and finally reached boiling point, triggering the so-called mini July 1 march on Sunday.
What's extraordinary is that, even with the offer of cash giveaways, over 10,000 demonstrators took part in the march, according to the organisers. The turnout would have been unimaginable had the government not offered HK$6,000 cash handouts to adult permanent residents and salaries tax reductions of 75 per cent. People seemed to be protesting for a variety of reasons and causes.
The level of discontent may have been exaggerated but, still, the government needs to address public concerns before it's too late.
As the government's chief adviser, sociologist Lau Siu-kai has failed to feel the pulse of the city and has misread public sentiment on numerous occasions.
Back in 2003, it wasn't difficult for all to notice that public outrage, whipped up by growing opposition against the proposed national security law, was getting out of control. Yet, on the eve of the July 1 march, Lau reassured the central government during a meeting with Premier Wen Jiabao that the turnout would be lower than 30,000. Some 500,000 people turned up. Lau's serious miscalculation effectively bankrupted his credibility and exposed his inadequate professional knowledge.