Hong Kong’s leader has promised to increase assistance for residents facing financial difficulties amidst external uncertainties confronting businesses. This commitment was made during his inaugural town hall meeting to gather public input before his policy address in October.
At a school in Tai Po, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and his team of senior officials engaged with around 100 residents in a televised session. This meeting is part of a series of public consultations leading up to his third policy address since assuming office in 2022.
As South China Morning Post reported, during the closed-door event, the majority of participants emphasized the need for the city’s leader to strengthen the local economy, boost tourism, and enhance residents’ quality of life.
Referring to concerns raised by various industries, Lee mentioned that despite having financial resources, many were cautious about major investments due to external uncertainties associated with the upcoming US presidential election, rising interest rates, and regional tensions.
Acknowledging the challenging transition in Asia, Lee assured attendees that their feedback would be considered in policy decisions to support everyone during these trying times.
While not specifying potential policies, Lee expressed optimism about improvements as the global economy shifted towards markets in Southeast Asia. His response came after a question from a participant named Law, who highlighted concerns about the securities industry’s growth in recent years and the effectiveness of government efforts to attract resources from the Middle East and South Asia. Law also urged authorities to explore additional measures to stimulate the local economy.
Article is based on inputs from South China Morning Post.
