Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam admits welfare failings after uproar over elderly CSSA changes and cash handout applications
- Fraught issue plunged government into first major crisis of the year
- City leader pledges experience will be ‘a good reminder for our future work’
Hong Kong’s leader has accepted public criticism for the poor handling of two contentious welfare issues that have plunged her government into its first major political crisis of the year.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor admitted on Tuesday that the way officials had introduced a highly unpopular rise in the age threshold for elderly welfare payments and managed a cash handout had led to doubts about her administration’s competence as well as her own leadership.
“The implementation of these measures has made people question the ability of this administration to govern,” Lam said. “I completely accept this criticism.”
She pledged that the experience would serve as “a good reminder for our future work”.
The criticism came in two volleys. The first followed the government’s announcement that the age threshold for elderly Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) would jump from 60 to 65, starting next month.
