9 October 1999

Policy Address harbour areas of disappointments

(keywords:- Policy Address, health financing, environmental protection, democracy)

          Whilst receiving overall praise for the determination in protecting our environment and restructuring our education, the freshly released Policy Address is being widely criticised for failing to soothe the public's major worries -- unemployment and economic downturn.

          Some observe this as positive sign of Government refraining from intervening our free economy. Others believe in Mr Tung's saying that the economy is already on the way to recovery. Let's hope such optimism is not too overly premature.

          However, on constitutional development, the Address definitely brings disappointments to many.

          As expected, Mr Tung stated again Government's firm stance of sticking to the Basic Law's ten-year timetable for political development. Yet, public sentiment and political maturity of the Hong Kong society now and nine years ago, when the Basic Law was promulgated, must be very different. Whilst Mr Tung is dead-on right to say that some prefer quickening the pace towards universal suffrage and others prefer greater cautiousness, a more practical and scientific way to weigh the community's preference would be for the Government to mount a referendum!

          Mr Tung also mentioned Government's plan to further promote understanding of the Basic Law. These are needed. Yet, as the Basic Law is already nine-year old, and as it has been implemented for more than two years, there are areas where the public, the legislators and even some officials find the need to amend. Regrettably, there is still no mechanism for instigating amendments. Neither is Government seemed to be keen in developing such mechanisms.

          The Address's coverage on working relationship between the executive authorities and the legislature is equally disappointing. For whilst acknowledging the need for the two to work closely together in the interests of the community, Mr Tung offered no concrete ways to address the years-old problematic relationship. Such laissez faire attitude reflects his disregard to the importance of effective governance that a good relationship between these two tiers of government will bring.

          For people in the medical field, the only sentence throughout the 58-page Address touching on health care must be a balk. Yes, when Government is yet to analyse the over 2,000 submissions in response to the Harvard Report, it must be premature for the Chief Executive to come up with a definitive health policy. Yet, it would defy all common sense that the Address even refrains from enshrining the basic principle that "health care should be a shared responsibility between Government and the users" -- although health officials have been promoting it repeatedly in the past year.

          It is essential for Government to come out with future plans, without delay, at least on our overall health care financing policy; the role of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the health care spectrum; as well as promotion of primary health care and the public's awareness in taking up self-responsibility towards healthy lifestyle.

          High marks should be accorded to Mr Tung on environmental protection. The setting up of a Council for Sustainable Development answerable to the Chief Executive, and the requirement for all bureaux to carry out sustainabiliy impact assessment of major new policy proposals, are major moves in the right direction. Yet, the proposed bullock cart pace to tackle air pollution belies the obvious damage to public health.

          To demonstrate Government's determination, $30 billion has been pledged for environment protection in the next decade. Let us hope that such huge spending on such a wide ambit will be spent judiciously in a cost effective manner through proper co-ordination amongst the various government bureaux and departments, instead of falling prey to unnecessary bureaucracy.

          Time will tell. Remember, sustainable development is for us and our future generations.

(Hongkong Standard)