Leung Chun-ying attended his final question and answer (Q&A) session at the Legislative Council (Legco) yesterday in his capacity as the Chief Executive. One by one he answered questions raised by lawmakers. A picture of remarkable progresses in housing, social welfare, education, medical care and innovation in past five year was clearly presented before all lawmakers and citizens. His administration has done a lot of down-to-earth and good things in past five years. The facts brook no distortion, and achievements must be given recognition.
As a matter of fact, going to step down as CE in about one month's time, Leung Chun-ying's work in his five-year term could be said much more arduous and difficult. For example, the twice yearly [CE] Q&A session at Legco should have been a very good opportunity for face-to-face communication between the CE and lawmakers, but the opposition puts every obstacle in the way turning the session into a stage of "political shows" for them to challenge and attack the CE.
Taking yesterday's Q&A session for instance, right now hot issues, from the overheated housing market, retirement protection to how to grasp the opportunities offered by the Belt and Road and construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, all concern economic development, people's livelihood and well-being. With regard to this, pro-establishment lawmakers raised some questions and the CE gave realistic answers. But several opposition lawmakers kept on at the CE about the UGL issue, pestering endlessly with abusive words and vicious remarks to make personal attacks. It is really disgusting and outrageous.
In his opening address at the Q&A session, Leung Chun-ying summarised the administrative works in economy and people's livelihood in last year and the past five years. It could be seen that achievements are real and progresses remarkable. The government has indeed racked its brains and devoted great efforts to increase land and housing supplies. Leung Chun-ying has honoured his promise on easing housing problem in his election platform five year ago.
Housing production cycle in Hong Kong takes at least four or five years. Hence, remarkable increase in supplies of both public and private housing will begin to take place from this year on. In upcoming three to four years, supply of first-hand private residential housing is expected to reach 96,000 units, 48 per cent more than that when the current-term government took office. As for public housing, during the five-year period beginning from 2016/17, the number of units to be built is expected to reach 94,600, up 42 per cent compared with five year ago when the current-term government took office.
At present, the key to solving the housing problem lies in the increase of land supply, and the key to increasing land supply lies in change in land use and planning.
On this, Leung Chun-ying pointed out once again yesterday that only with land available could housing be built. The use of land in Hong Kong is planned. Very often, there is a site, but it is not planned for building housing. Therefore, some procedure has to be gone through, which takes time. On the other hand, development plans sometimes drag on. This happens particularly often for a plan to build public housing. Opposition by local residents makes the time needed for development much longer.
In his final Q&A session at Legso, Leung Chun-ying did not forget to give his "farewell advice" to the legislature and whole society as well. He pointed out that this year marked the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the Motherland. In the past two decades, global political and economic situation has witnessed profound changes. Our country has developed at seven-league strides, with national strength and international influence keeping increasing. Our country's Belt and Road initiative and the development plan of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Great Bay Area are enormous in size and profound in influence, which will provide enormous and all-dimensional opportunities for at least two generations of Hong Kong people.
"One month later, the new-term government will take office. I hope all lawmakers and social sectors will pull together to support the governance of the new-term CE and SAR Government, and join efforts to work for the benefit of seven million citizens, enabling Hong Kong, this Pearl of the Orient, become even more prosperous and brilliant."
Despite the stormy Legco in past five years, Leung Chun-ying's efforts and achievements in implementing "one country two systems", developing the economy and improving people's livelihood can fearlessly face any challenge at Legco and serve as a loud and clear answer.
02 June 2017
