City BeatIs populism the way out and forward for Hong Kong?

Just as spending money is no solution to the city’s social unrest, reducing the daily migration quota will not ease the animosity between Hong Kong and the mainland

The Hong Kong government needs to find the political will and developers should focus on affordable housing as more practical and effective approaches to tackling the city’s problems

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Anti-government protesters at a demonstration in Sheung Shui on January 5, 2020. The Hong Kong government needs to find the political will and courage to end the turmoil. Photo: Edmond So

Published: 4:44pm, 19 Jan 2020Updated: 9:32pm, 19 Jan 2020

Is Hong Kong heading towards a populist society?

Not only does this government seem to be more inclined to use public money as a wishful cure for its political problems, some of this city’s elite also tend to take external factors as the source of deep-rooted social issues. More serious soul searching is needed.

Embattled Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s latest HK$10 billion (US$1.29 billion) package of relief measures, including lowering the age threshold from 65 to 60 for the HK$2 public transport subsidy scheme, will surely help those in need, but it also comes across as too obvious that she is trying to boost her own popularity, along with that of her government.

There is nothing wrong with that on a practical level – after all, effective governance needs public support. But whether substantially increasing new recurrent expenditure is the way out, is something else.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam recently announced a HK$10 billion package of relief measures for Hongkongers. Photo: Sam Tsang

Add to that another sensitive issue brought up by a property tycoon. Sun Hung Kai Properties managing director Adam Kwok Kai-fai raised eyebrows by suggesting the daily quota for Chinese mainlanders relocating to Hong Kong for family reunions should be halved to 75.