Hong Kong Policy Address: Protest group calls for full democracy, claims gov’t lacks ‘mandate, checks, balances’
Hong Kong Free Press
A pro-democracy group has called on the government to establish full universal suffrage during a five-person a rally outside government headquarters, as Chief Executive John Lee prepared to deliver a list of key policy measures for the year ahead.
The League of Social Democrats activists gathered outside the central government offices in Admiralty on Wednesday morning, just before the 2023 Policy Address, as an almost-equal number of police officers looked on.
LSD chair Chan Po-ying said the need for democracy was at the root of Hongkongers’ livelihood issues, and that the government had failed to acknowledge public opinion.
“Policies from a government that has no mandate from the public, no checks and balances, and that even fails to heed public consultations, will only benefit their masters and the powerful conglomerates who truly hold the votes,” Chan said into a loudspeaker in Cantonese.
Chan was joined by four other activists, including vice-chair Dickson Chau and Raphael Wong. They held a banner reading: “strive for a local economy, plan for democratic development” – a play on Lee’s Policy Address theme: “build the economy, plan for development.”
The League’s calls for democracy come more than three years after Beijing inserted national security legislation directly into Hong Kong’s mini-constitution – bypassing the local legislature – following a year of pro-democracy protests and unrest.
It criminalised subversion, secession, collusion with foreign forces and terrorist acts, which were broadly defined to include disruption to transport and other infrastructure, following months of pro-democracy protests and unrest.
‘Squandered’ taxpayer money
Chan added that, despite its financial woes, the government still plans to carry out two large-scale development projects that would “squander” some HK$2 trillion of taxpayer money.
“The government plans to spend a huge amount of money, but will it prioritise the interests of Hong Kong people?” she asked, adding that the government had yet to rezone idle land for public housing to curb the city’s housing shortage.
The League also called on the government to abolish political vetting measures and release political prisoners, and ensure Hongkongers’ freedom of speech, press, and assembly under the Basic Law.
Support HKFP | Policies & Ethics | Error/typo? | Contact Us | Newsletter | Transparency & Annual Report | Apps
Help safeguard press freedom & keep HKFP free for all readers by supporting our team
