Hong Kong is busy with infrastructure development, but its construction industry is facing acute manpower shortage. Measures so far taken by the government and the industry are far from adequate. As a last resort, a simple yet efficient labour import mechanism is necessary to ensure the on-schedule completion of various public housing and infrastructure development projects.

“Academic freedom” must be upheld and defended. Yet, its true significance is often overlooked. Some universities and scholars in Hong Kong seem to have misconceptions about “academic freedom”. While pursuing “academic freedom”, they should also fulfil their education mission and social responsibilities.

The Chief Executive’s second Policy Address has put forward various initiatives to spur economic development. The Government is expected to promote more actively the growth of industries, such as finance, logistics, tourism and R&D, and take concrete steps to improve Hong Kong’s business environment and enhance competitiveness, gearing up the economy to fly high again.

Credit should be given to the Policy Address for its proactivity in alleviating poverty, helping the elderly and disadvantaged and improving education. Yet it put less focus on long-term economic development and support for the middle class and SMEs, failing to pursue people’s livelihood and the economy in tandem. While launching measures to alleviate poverty and raise land and housing supply, the Government should also pay heed to short and medium-term economic development.

Hong Kong is a pluralistic society of various aspirations. It is prevalent to hear the calling for returning the wealth to the people by making tax concessions or giving out money in a bid to improve people’s livelihood and support the disadvantaged and the poor. However, I can hardly agree on these viewpoints and proposals.

As one of the four pillar industries of Hong Kong, tourism has a strong bearing on the city’s society, economy and its people’s livelihood. The HKSAR Government has to be far-sighted in strengthening Hong Kong’s advantage as a shopping paradise. Besides, it is pressing for our policymakers to have a flexible and innovative mindset to instil dynamism and vitality into the industry by resolving some pressing problems and devising effective long-term strategies to boost Hong Kong tourism.

Our country supports Hong Kong in leveraging and driving the development of the professional services sectors in the entire Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. As the key lies precisely in whether we have enough professional talents, it is necessary for the Government to nurture local professional services talents on various fronts.

The Government must remain result-oriented to expand development capacity, strengthen development momentum, speed up the recovery process, and inject vitality into the economy.