A second pro-Beijing party has suggested one-time financial relief measures to “alleviate hardships” for Hongkongers, including waiving two months’ worth of rent for public housing residents, amid what is arguably the city’s largest outpouring of anti-establishment sentiment since the handover.
Representatives of the DAB met with Financial Secretary Paul Chan today, asking the government to introduce the one-off relief measures before the announcement of the next Policy Address in October. The relief measures should “win the public support and comfort the public,” they said.
“Because of the Sino-US Trade War and the decelerating global economic growth, Hong Kong’s economy shows signs of slowing down, or even deteriorating,” said DAB Chairwoman Starry Lee, adding that she believed such measures could goose the economy and help both large- and small-scale enterprises.
The party proposed electricity and water fee subsidies for households, waiving the rent of public housing residents for two months, granting a HK$2,500 “back to school” subsidy to students, and granting an extra month of subsidies to beneficiaries of the Old Age Living Allowance and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme.
Lee also suggested a HK$400 million (US$51.1 million) so-called “Environmental Hygiene Improvement Fund” clean-up effort in local districts.
She appeared not to mention, however, that district council elections are set for November, and Legislative Council elections will be held next September. Nor did she substantively address the massive outpouring of antipathy towards pro-Beijing parties engendered by massive ongoing pro-democracy demonstrations.
Lee only addressed the protests obliquely, referring to “social conflicts” and calling for Hongkongers to forego violence.
“We see that many conflicts were caused by deep-rooted social problems, and we hope the government, in the upcoming policy address, can acknowledge the social problems and solve the social conflicts,” she said.
The DAB is the second pro-establishment party to recommend throwing money at the unprecedented popular angst pervading the city.
The New People’s Party last week suggested authorities give an HK$8,000 cash handout to all permanent residents in hopes of easing ongoing social tensions, while also insisting the plan had nothing to do with upcoming elections.
