Hong Kong could learn from Singapore and Shenzhen when it comes to economic growth, lawmakers say

Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong says government should look outside civil service

Largest pro-establishment party says city needs development and reform commission similar to one in mainland China

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DAB chairwoman Starry Lee (centre), alongside lawmaker Ben Chan (left) and vice-chairman Horace Cheung. Photo: Facebook

Published: 1:18pm, 23 Sep 2021Updated: 10:46pm, 23 Sep 2021

Hong Kong’s largest pro-establishment party has urged the government to create new authorities and appoint more people from outside the civil service to help the city diversify its economy, and solve social problems such as housing and environmental hygiene.

Aside from new policy bureaus and political posts, leaders of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong also said officials should learn from Beijing, in establishing a development and reform commission responsible for drafting a plan for Hong Kong’s future growth.

“There is ‘one country, two systems’ in Hong Kong, but for more than 20 years since the 1997 handover [of Hong Kong from British to Chinese rule], a lot of people have complained about how we lack long-term and comprehensive plans,” Starry Lee Wai-king, the party’s chairwoman, said on Thursday.

“Under a strong ruling party, Singapore’s GDP and innovation is better than Hong Kong’s. Even Shenzhen exceeds us, so we need to reflect on this.”

Starry Lee, chairwoman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

The National Development and Reform Commission is an influential ministry in mainland China responsible for drafting and executing the country’s annual socio-economic blueprint, its five-year plans, and its latest targets to be achieved by 2035.