Shockingly low response rate to Hong Kong government public consultations revealed

Of the 25 consultations launched last year, 15 had fewer than 100 responses, while a couple only got two replies

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Concerns have been raised at the low public response rate to consultation. Photo: Winson Wong

Published: 1:03pm, 22 Jan 2018Updated: 5:31pm, 3 Jul 2018

Some of the Hong Kong government’s policies were guided by only “a couple of” views collected from the public during consultations, according to research by the Post.

Of 25 consultations completed last year – most lasting about two to three months – 15 got fewer than 100 public responses. Of the 15, nine got fewer than 20 responses, and two of them received only two submissions.

The tiny number of responses has prompted questions over the quality of the consultations, and critics called for an overhaul of the system designed to take the public pulse.

Information made available on the government website GovHK showed the public had been asked to comment on a new proposal every two weeks on average in 2017.

Subjects ranged from energy labelling on products and arrangements for the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz mobile frequency spectrum, to the “smart city” blueprint and election arrangements.

A seven-week public consultation on proposals to amend the Chinese Medicine Ordinance in early 2017 received two submissions, according to the Department of Health. Both supported the government plans to empower the health director to order a recall of Chinese herbal medicine on public health grounds.