Hong Kong chief executive delivers his first policy address
Hong Kong's leader unveiled plans to resuscitate the business hub's fortunes, hoping to lure back international expertise after an exodus of talent -- but he vowed no let-up in a political crackdown that has transformed the city.
John Lee, a Beijing-anointed former security chief, gave a debut policy speech that prioritised the revival of an economy mired in recession and maintaining security while recognising that many had left a city that serves as a gateway to China.
"Over the past two years, the local workforce shrank by about 140,000," he said. "Apart from actively nurturing and retaining local talent, the government will proactively trawl the world for talent."
The former British colony has lately undergone its most tumultuous period since its 1997 handover to China.
Huge and sometimes violent democracy protests three years ago were followed by a sweeping clampdown on dissent as well as some of the world's strictest coronavirus pandemic rules, many of which remained in place long after rivals reopened.
The city, which only scrapped mandatory quarantine for international arrivals last month, has seen its deficit soar while the border with the Chinese mainland remains all but closed because of Beijing's strict zero-Covid rules.
Lee's speech offered his blueprint for reversing that downturn, including a talent scouting office, a HK$30 billion ($3.8 billion) co-investment fund to attract overseas businesses and rules to make it easier to hire foreigners.
