Election pledges aside, CY Leung will be judged on whether he has put Hong Kong on the right path

Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying must be feeling the heat as public scrutiny on his 2012 campaign promises intensifies in the remaining months of his first term. Instead of leaving the assessment to critics, the leader has again compiled a report on his work over the past year. The public can judge for themselves how much has – or has not – been achieved and whether the right directions for future development have been mapped out.

As in the past, the report covering Leung’s fourth year in office is rich in figures. For instance, the number of applicants for welfare payment has dropped to a 14-year-low. It is expected that some 36,000 private residential units will be completed this year and next. The estimated total public housing production in the five-year period starting from 2015-16 is also higher than that in each of the previous three five-year periods, according to Leung.

Given the discontent – and even hostility – over his governance among pan-democrats and in certain quarters in society, it may be tempting to commend Leung for achieving much over the past year. The 39-page report may even be seen by some as justification for Leung to seek a second term.