Latest from Albert Cheng
The budget proposal to buy private properties to set up welfare facilities has come under fire, and the welfare secretary has said the government will not buy them from Link Reit. Actually, a smarter solution would be to buy back Link Reit.
The budget proposal to buy private properties to set up welfare facilities has come under fire, and the welfare secretary has said the government will not buy them from Link Reit. Actually, a smarter solution would be to buy back Link Reit.
Patriotic tycoons like Li Ka-shing not only have substantial investments overseas but also vision. The US-led effort to stifle China’s technological development, now centred on resisting Huawei, cannot succeed if Beijing works with the business elite.
Patriotic tycoons like Li Ka-shing not only have substantial investments overseas but also vision. The US-led effort to stifle China’s technological development, now centred on resisting Huawei, cannot succeed if Beijing works with the business elite.
The plan to raise toll fees on two crossings while making a token reduction on the privately run third won’t ease congestion. Taking the western tunnel, MTR and all bus companies into public ownership is the only way forward.
The plan to raise toll fees on two crossings while making a token reduction on the privately run third won’t ease congestion. Taking the western tunnel, MTR and all bus companies into public ownership is the only way forward.
The generous terms in the contract awarded to a New World subsidiary to design, build and run the Kai Tak Sports Park raises questions about whether the Hong Kong public could have got a better deal.
The generous terms in the contract awarded to a New World subsidiary to design, build and run the Kai Tak Sports Park raises questions about whether the Hong Kong public could have got a better deal.
The pro-democracy camp in the Legislative Council is being oppressed and not fighting back. To regain the role of government monitor, the pan-dems should join, and claim bigger roles in, all Legco committees.
The pro-democracy camp in the Legislative Council is being oppressed and not fighting back. To regain the role of government monitor, the pan-dems should join, and claim bigger roles in, all Legco committees.
Hong Kong’s pro-democrats need to come back down to earth, and the grass roots, if they are to have any hope of keeping their seats in the upcoming elections and regaining their veto power.
Hong Kong’s pro-democrats need to come back down to earth, and the grass roots, if they are to have any hope of keeping their seats in the upcoming elections and regaining their veto power.
Even 5 per cent of our country parks could provide enough land for housing for decades without the expense and inefficiency of reclamation.
Even 5 per cent of our country parks could provide enough land for housing for decades without the expense and inefficiency of reclamation.
The Housing Authority is abusing its penalty points system. Recently, it imposed a restriction on making cooking noises in a public estate, and evicted an elderly dementia patient from her flat.
The Housing Authority is abusing its penalty points system. Recently, it imposed a restriction on making cooking noises in a public estate, and evicted an elderly dementia patient from her flat.
The chief executive’s Lantau reclamation project and other housing proposals seem designed to benefit big business, starting with the mainland Chinese construction sector.
The chief executive’s Lantau reclamation project and other housing proposals seem designed to benefit big business, starting with the mainland Chinese construction sector.
The government owes the public a clear explanation of why it has revised acceptable subsidence levels for the troubled Sha Tin-Central rail link project. Hong Kong is a city that values transparency, which Carrie Lam should keep in mind.
The government owes the public a clear explanation of why it has revised acceptable subsidence levels for the troubled Sha Tin-Central rail link project. Hong Kong is a city that values transparency, which Carrie Lam should keep in mind.
Government officials have again proved that they live in an ivory tower. Carrie Lam’s administration failed to consider what the Monday morning after the super typhoon would be like for the thousands of Hongkongers facing long commutes.
Government officials have again proved that they live in an ivory tower. Carrie Lam’s administration failed to consider what the Monday morning after the super typhoon would be like for the thousands of Hongkongers facing long commutes.
The uproar over non-Jupas applicants taking up a large share of seats in prestigious courses such as medicine could be addressed by allowing doctors trained overseas to practise in Hong Kong, easing the competition for medical places here.
The uproar over non-Jupas applicants taking up a large share of seats in prestigious courses such as medicine could be addressed by allowing doctors trained overseas to practise in Hong Kong, easing the competition for medical places here.
The MTR’s rail business should be hived off and taken into public ownership to put public interest over profit. While they’re at it, the government should also acquire the bus companies and cross-harbour tunnels to rationalise the entire transport system.
The MTR’s rail business should be hived off and taken into public ownership to put public interest over profit. While they’re at it, the government should also acquire the bus companies and cross-harbour tunnels to rationalise the entire transport system.
Public housing should be built on a large scale, though the failure of Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s six measures to cool Hong Kong’s housing market highlights the need for the government to follow Singapore in delinking public housing prices from the private market.
Public housing should be built on a large scale, though the failure of Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s six measures to cool Hong Kong’s housing market highlights the need for the government to follow Singapore in delinking public housing prices from the private market.
Having lost the power to block government bills in the Legislative Council, the pan-democrats must find a way to convince the public they are still relevant.
Having lost the power to block government bills in the Legislative Council, the pan-democrats must find a way to convince the public they are still relevant.
To solve Hong Kong’s housing crisis, the government should completely delink subsidised housing prices from the market.
To solve Hong Kong’s housing crisis, the government should completely delink subsidised housing prices from the market.
The pan-democrat camp is losing ground but can rally by focusing on constructive projects instead of each party’s own political interests.
The pan-democrat camp is losing ground but can rally by focusing on constructive projects instead of each party’s own political interests.
The growing number of people who are making the move West – including a sizeable group leaving Hong Kong a second time – go in search of better opportunities, more affordable housing and better education
The growing number of people who are making the move West – including a sizeable group leaving Hong Kong a second time – go in search of better opportunities, more affordable housing and better education
A legislator’s insensitive remarks nevertheless highlighted a real need in Hong Kong – our 380,000 helpers should have a place to meet, rest and enjoy themselves and not be forced to gather in public spaces.
A legislator’s insensitive remarks nevertheless highlighted a real need in Hong Kong – our 380,000 helpers should have a place to meet, rest and enjoy themselves and not be forced to gather in public spaces.
Workers deserve a fairer deal, and employers who have benefited from the arrangement over the past 18 years should not stand in the way of the government doing the right thing now.
Workers deserve a fairer deal, and employers who have benefited from the arrangement over the past 18 years should not stand in the way of the government doing the right thing now.
Democratic Party legislator Ted Hui is owed some loyalty by fellow democrats over unfair criticism, but what he did was wrong and he should have taken responsibility for his reckless behaviour
Democratic Party legislator Ted Hui is owed some loyalty by fellow democrats over unfair criticism, but what he did was wrong and he should have taken responsibility for his reckless behaviour
The resale of tickets for concerts and sporting events is a common business practice that should be allowed to thrive in a free-market economy. Recent calls to crack down on touts go too far.
The resale of tickets for concerts and sporting events is a common business practice that should be allowed to thrive in a free-market economy. Recent calls to crack down on touts go too far.
The government must accept Uber as part of the city’s transport solutions. This means bringing it under regulation, which may help pacify anger in the taxi trade.
The government must accept Uber as part of the city’s transport solutions. This means bringing it under regulation, which may help pacify anger in the taxi trade.
A tax on vacant property will do little to increase the supply of affordable housing. Hong Kong should learn from Vancouver, which has a raft of measures in place to ensure adequate housing for sale and rent.
A tax on vacant property will do little to increase the supply of affordable housing. Hong Kong should learn from Vancouver, which has a raft of measures in place to ensure adequate housing for sale and rent.
The 2018 Hong Kong budget has failed to deliver, and it’s time the government reassessed the city’s two loss-making theme parks that do not live up to their promises to the public.
The 2018 Hong Kong budget has failed to deliver, and it’s time the government reassessed the city’s two loss-making theme parks that do not live up to their promises to the public.
The government needs to be proactive in tackling the chronic shortage of medical practitioners in public hospitals.
The government needs to be proactive in tackling the chronic shortage of medical practitioners in public hospitals.
Cathay’s fall from first to 12th in an airline safety ranking stems from opaque changes to the assessment criteria. Officials have let Hong Kong down by not defending Cathay’s – and the city’s – reputation for safety.
Cathay’s fall from first to 12th in an airline safety ranking stems from opaque changes to the assessment criteria. Officials have let Hong Kong down by not defending Cathay’s – and the city’s – reputation for safety.
The chief executive should take the opportunity to resolve the long-standing problem of unauthorised building works in Hong Kong homes.
The chief executive should take the opportunity to resolve the long-standing problem of unauthorised building works in Hong Kong homes.
Vulnerable public housing residents are paying the price for the listing of the Link Reit. The government could offer ancillary amenities to those most affected.
Vulnerable public housing residents are paying the price for the listing of the Link Reit. The government could offer ancillary amenities to those most affected.
Smaller one- or two-child families and abundant domestic helpers – even for middle- and working-class households – has resulted in a generation that can’t care for itself.
Smaller one- or two-child families and abundant domestic helpers – even for middle- and working-class households – has resulted in a generation that can’t care for itself.