Hong Kong chief executive election 2022: John Lee pledges to form community service teams to mobilise support for residents in times of need
- The sole chief executive candidate plans to set up care teams with a network of volunteers in all of the city’s 18 districts
- Critics had said government’s ‘aloof’ attitude and lack of engagement with the community was why fifth wave of Covid-19 infections overwhelmed the city
Hong Kong’s sole chief executive candidate John Lee Ka-chiu has promised to set up district-level service teams to mobilise support for residents in the event of crises, as well as help the elderly and others in need.
Announcing his election manifesto on Friday, Lee said he would establish district services and community care teams in the city’s 18 districts, with a network of volunteers to support the government’s work during pandemics or emergencies, such as typhoons and floods.
“[This is] to ensure we will have enough people to be mobilised when needed and that we know their abilities and backgrounds well, so they can be of most help,” he said.
Those teams would also help care for the elderly and underprivileged groups outside such times of need, he said.
“I will unite all the sectors to solve problems together, especially in communities,” Lee said.
NGOs and social workers previously criticised the government for being “aloof” and lacking engagement with the community. They felt authorities were not better able to mobilise resources to support the underprivileged, especially during the fifth wave of the Covid-19 infections when the surging number of cases left vulnerable groups, including the elderly, helpless.