Tik Chi Yuen

Opinion | No more excuses: time for government to make Hongkongers’ lives better

The government’s familiar excuses of political opposition and filibustering no longer apply now that Hong Kong has passed Article 23 legislation

It is time to turn talk of economic growth and new ideas into reality and improve the lives of residents whose trust in the city’s leadership has waned

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Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-Chiu (centre) talks to lawmakers at the Legislative Council after the passage of Article 23, on March 19. After years of blaming political opposition and filibustering for a lack of progress on the issues that matter to Hongkongers, the city government no longer has any excuses for its inaction. Photo: EPA-EFE

Tik Chi Yuen

Published: 9:30am, 31 Mar 2024Updated: 10:18am, 31 Mar 2024

After the Legislative Council passed the Article 23 national security legislation, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu paid a surprise visit to the legislature later that day. In his speech, he made it clear that the city government, now unburdened by political obstacles, would go all out in turbocharging the economy and uplifting the lives of the people.

In the past, government officials have blamed political opposition and filibustering in the Legislative Council for impeding effective governance. Now, with changes to the electoral system and the Article 23 legislation in place, these hurdles have been cleared. The excuse of political hindrance is no longer valid.

The government cannot continue to sit on its hands or make excuses. It’s high time we held the chief executive and officials accountable, ensuring that their rhetoric of economic growth and improved livelihoods becomes tangible reality.

Hong Kong is dealing with a host of issues, including an uncertain economic outlook and its struggle to find a clear path for economic development. On top of that, the government faces budget deficits and the need to address various social issues such as an ageing population, demand for mental health services, poverty alleviation and more. How can the government tackle these challenges while also driving economic growth and enhancing the well-being of its citizens?

To kick-start progress, the government must paint a compelling vision for the future by laying out a five-year development blueprint. It’s not enough to simply propose development plans as we have seen previous plans end up as mere pipe dreams or fall short of delivering the expected results.

In recent years, the government has trumpeted plans and schemes such as the Belt and Road Initiative, the Greater Bay Area, innovation and technology, an event-based economy and retaining its status as an international financial hub. However, these plans hold little meaning for average Hongkongers who struggle to envision them as part of a concrete future.