Groups stage demonstrations to call for improvements to city’s housing situation and measures to ease pressure on the underprivileged
At least seven groups across the political spectrum made their last-ditch efforts on Sunday to urge Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor to announce new initiatives in her maiden policy address to improve the city’s housing supply and help underprivileged residents.
The demonstrations outside the government’s headquarters in Admiralty and Lam’s Government House residence in Central came three days before the chief executive is set to roll out her annual policy blueprint in the Legislative Council on Wednesday morning.
Since taking office in July, Lam and her officials have indicated that her policy speech will be a comprehensive blueprint covering profit tax reforms, “starter homes” for first-time buyers, and initiatives to boost the innovation and technology sector.
But the Democratic Party, the largest pro-democracy party in Legco with seven lawmakers, said that was not enough to solve Hong Kong’s problems.
Gathering outside the government’s office compound with about 10 democrats, the party’s chairman Wu Chi-wai urged Lam to allow owners of subsidised housing to rent their property without paying a hefty premium to the government.
“The government has been lazy on a number of policy areas. We hope that it can be people-oriented in doing their job,” Wu said.
He also said Lam should engage the public and relaunch the political reform process to achieve a popular ballot for the city’s leadership.
Separately, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, the largest pro-establishment party in Legco with 12 legislators, also gathered to set out their demands.
