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John Lee policy address 2023

John Lee policy address 2023
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu delivered his second policy address on October 25. Revisit his 2022 policy address here.
The Fire Services Department will have a new robotic dog to help with rescue missions. Photo: Edmond So
Hong Kong society

Hong Kong fire service reports surge in job applications following easing of rules

Director of Fire Services Andy Yeung also reveals pass rate for fitness tests has risen from 60 per cent to around 90 per cent after new physical standards were put in place.

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Hong Kong society

Solve root problems to help Hong Kong urban farming blossom: industry chiefs

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Israel-Gaza war

Letters | Israel-Gaza war underlines urgent need for UN reform

Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong scheme to lure capital, talent could reel in ‘HK$120 billion annually’

Financial services chief Christopher Hui reveals details of New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme and expresses confidence in its appeal to talent.

Other talent schemes in Hong Kong mostly aim to boost the workforce, a government official says. Photo: Jelly Tse
Hong Kong housing

Opinion | Two creative ways for Hong Kong to keep its property market on an even keel

The government must strike a balance between property cooling measures and the need to maintain a stable housing market. It could consider reintroducing the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme of 2003, albeit with some restrictions, and offering further stamp duty relief to young couples.

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Hong Kong housing

Waiting time for transitional homes cut to 2 years for Hongkongers with newborns

Adjustment of requirements for tenants of transitional housing aims ‘to promote fertility and create a childbearing environment’, government spokesman says.

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Hong Kong economy

Opinion | Time for Hong Kong to open its doors to Asean talent and capital

Hong Kong can add value to Southeast Asian economies as an education hub on the doorstep of the Greater Bay Area. The city must also be more proactive about attracting professionals, entrepreneurs and ultra-high-net-worth individuals from Asean.

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Office workers walk around Hong Kong’s Central district on November 20. The city must become truly accessible to talent and capital from Asean. Photo: Bloomberg
Hong Kong society

Opinion | Nurture Hong Kong’s ethnic minorities to help solve talent shortage

Empowering these individuals can help them to break the vicious circle of poverty, providing a ready pool of talent to advance the city’s socioeconomic development.

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Hong Kong economy

Opinion | Why Hong Kong must lean into public-private partnerships

Amid geopolitical tension and intensifying competition from Singapore, a status quo-oriented approach is unlikely to rejuvenate Hong Kong. The government should strengthen partnerships with the private sector to attract talent, foster innovation and secure Hong Kong’s future.

Foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong

Letters | Children of domestic helpers also deserve the best start in life

Readers discuss the hardships of migrant domestic worker mums, the call for the government to avert the property downturn, and the policy allowing more non-local students to enrol in Hong Kong universities.

A migrant worker mother and her child in October 2021. In Hong Kong, children born to foreign domestic workers may not have access to public healthcare and welfare services. Photo: K. Y. Cheng
Education in Hong Kong

Opinion | Patriotic education for Hong Kong must be curated with care

Patriotic education is not a new idea. Countries including the US and the UK offer some form of it to build support for a nation. For Hong Kong, it is important to identify patriotic knowledge, skills and values before disseminating them to students and non-students alike.

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A footbridge is adorned with the Chinese national and Hong Kong flags for the celebration of National Day in October. Photo: Reuters
Hong Kong housing

Opinion | Solve Hong Kong’s housing predicament with separate permanent residents’ market

On top of regulating the private market, the government could help make the subsidised flat market more liquid while ring-fencing it for local residential use. It should offer more subsidised flats for sale and also start building bigger homes.

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Hong Kong housing

Opinion | Tackle Hong Kong’s shortage of affordable housing with more subsidised sale flats

If the government wants to eradicate subdivided units, increasing public rental housing supply alone will not get the job done. Too many people are ineligible to rent government-subsidised flats, and maintaining these estates comes at a steep price.

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Hong Kong economy

Opinion | If Hong Kong wants to be smart and green, it must look up into space, not just ahead

Even as Chinese space exploration takes off, the recent policy address is strangely silent on how the space sector can contribute to Hong Kong. This is disappointing because ground-to-sky sensing technologies, for instance, would serve the city, including the Northern Metropolis, well.

The return capsule, carrying three astronauts from China’s Shenzhou-16 spacecraft, is about to touch down at the Dongfeng site in Inner Mongolia on October 31. China has opened up the recruitment of taikonauts to Hong Kong, and the city’s emerging space sector has much to offer. Photo: EPA-EFE/Xinhua
Hong Kong children

Bigger cash bonuses for Hong Kong newborns will drain public coffers: official

Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk turns down lawmaker’s call for five-year handout for low-income families with newborns and higher child tax allowance.

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A Hong Kong official has reject lawmakers’ calls to give some families with newborns a five-year HK$40,000 annual handout. Photo: Xiaomei Chen
Northern Metropolis

Opinion | Hong Kong needs a global vision for its innovation-driven university town

The recently proposed Northern Metropolis university town should not be designed for education only. To truly boost innovation, a global vision is required rather than unhealthy competition among local universities and an overly local focus.

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Hong Kong society

Letters | Don’t write off youth depression as just a mental health problem

Readers discuss the importance of delving into the social, political and environmental causes of students’ mental health challenges, how to make foreign students feel welcomed, a possible factor in falling Chinese standards, and the plight of North Koreans living in China.

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Hong Kong politics

Opinion | Why John Lee’s lack of faith in voters is crystal clear

John Lee said during his recent policy address that he has faith in the people of Hong Kong, but the actions of his government tell a different story. Stripping power from district councils, cutting directly elected seats and barring the opposition from running don’t appear to be enough.

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A pedestrian passes a large promotional poster for the 2023 district council elections, at Tsim Sha Tsui Pier on November 1. Centrists and the opposition have been all but frozen out of the upcoming election, leading to fears of reduced political diversity and representation. Photo: Jelly Tse
Hong Kong economy

Inside Out | For a true picture of Hong Kong’s economic challenges, look beyond numbers

While the economy grew 4.1 per cent in the third quarter, and unemployment and bankruptcy rates do not appear worrying, the feeling on the ground is quite different. In time, much more economic harm is likely to be revealed.

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Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong’s search for land supply rolls on even as economy slows, official says

Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn says searching for land is long-term work.

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Hong Kong economy

Opinion | Don’t spare us the hard truth about Hong Kong’s finances

When the government presents budget deficit figures on a net basis, it can create a false impression of abundance. At a time when revenue is soft, it’s surely more effective to tell the truth, so that sound decisions can be made about revenue and expenditure.

A view of the village houses at Yau Kom Tau, Tsuen Wan. Hong Kong faces a challenging fiscal situation as government revenue from land and other sources suffers. Several sales of residential sites, including at Yau Kom Tau, have failed this year. Photo: Dickson Lee
Hong Kong society

Editorial | A comprehensive population policy for Hong Kong is long overdue

John Lee announced 10 initiatives in his policy address to encourage births in response to the city’s changing demographics. The government must not rule out more family-friendly measures.

John Lee’s policy address proposes measures to encourage childbirth. Photo: Jelly Tse
Hong Kong economy

Opinion | At an economic crossroads, Hong Kong needs a proactive strategy

Although the Greater Bay Area will provide an economic relaunch pad, the city can’t afford to be a passive player adapting to paths defined by others. With Hong Kong facing a supply bottleneck in land, labour and capital, opening multiple routes for talent from around the world is also vital.

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Hong Kong economy

Opinion | Foreign firms will boost Hong Kong only if local industries benefit

For a “headquarters economy” to work, foreign corporations must be encouraged to connect with local industry and local talent, and strengthen the local supply chain. True competitiveness lies in having a strong local economy.

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Hong Kong politics

Will city leader’s Apec absence take heat off Hong Kong amid US-China friction?

Exco convenor Regina Ip says arrangement ensures Hong Kong has a seat at the leaders’ meeting without drawing reference again to all the stigma attached to the sanctions.

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The Apec leaders’ meeting will be held in San Francisco in mid-November. Photo: AP
Hong Kong society

Opinion | Why Hong Kong is misfiring on patriotic education, again

The government’s latest framework for patriotic education doesn’t address issues that hampered previous efforts in this area. The basis of people’s identity complex rests on their mixed feelings towards mainlanders and anxiety over the national security law.

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People holding lanterns walk past Chinese and Hong Kong flags in Hong Kong on October 1, during the Mid-Autumn and National Day holidays. Traditional Chinese festivals are celebrated in Hong Kong all year round. What many Hongkongers have trouble identifying as is not “Chinese”, but “Chinese citizens”. Photo: EPA-EFE
Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong economy still growing but gains marginal even with tourism boost

Gross domestic product edges up 0.1 per cent in the third quarter compared with the second three months.

Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong opens new office for talent drive aimed at luring high-skilled workers

Physical office for ‘Hong Kong Talent Engage’ online platform was among initiatives announced by John Lee in policy address.

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