We also need to pay attention to what lies beyond Lam’s ideas for tax reforms. She has shown herself to be most assertive and ambitious here – and has admitted a plan to go beyond her election campaign pledge and reduce the city’s profits tax from 16.5 per cent to below 10 per cent for the first HK$2 million of profits for all businesses. It’s about more than just a two-tier profits tax system; we need to look closely at where she plans to spend. With former Monetary Authority chief Joseph Yam Chi-kwong part of “Team Carrie”, the public will certainly have high expectations.

Ahead of the policy address, perhaps the most ink has been splashed on the “Starter Homes” scheme to provide affordable flats for young, middle-class households unable to afford private housing but earning too much to qualify for public flat rentals. Responses have generally been positive. Anticipation has been building for the past few weeks, and whether Lam can keep up the momentum and clear inherent obstacles will depend on how she backs her ideas with clear plans, concrete policy details, and her sales pitch to the public.

With that, we’ve arrived at the most important question ahead of the address: whether Lam will engage not only the Legislative Council, but the Hong Kong public. Lam will not deliver her maiden policy address to a full house on Wednesday, with six vacant seats and at least two “radicals” in the chamber no doubt wracking their brains about how to disrupt her, get ejected and vie for public attention. If Lam can reach her audience beyond the chamber walls, though, little attention will be paid to possible objects thrown across the room. Lam must deliver an address with substance for regular Hongkongers. We’ve grown too used to popping popcorn while we watch disengaged due to political theatrics that outshone policies.