City’s chief executive faces barrage of criticism from lawmakers regarding issues from labour to education
TONY CHEUNG AND JOYCE NG
PUBLISHED : Thursday, 14 January, 2016, 3:05pm
UPDATED : Thursday, 14 January, 2016, 3:31pm
Chief executive Leung Chun-ying argued that he promised only “retirement protection, not retirement protection for all”. Photo: K.Y. Cheng
Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying faced a barrage of criticism from across the political spectrum on Thursday morning for “falling short” of his election promises about labour and education issues.
Critics included lawmaker Tang Ka-piu, from the pro-Beijing Federation of Trade Unions. “We are very disappointed that the policy address only briefly touched on standard working hours,” Tang said.
Labour Party lawmaker Cyd Ho Sau-lan asked if Leung would fulfill his election promise about “universal retirement protection”, but Leung argued that he promised only “retirement protection, not retirement protection for all” in his manifesto.
READ MORE: Hong Kong leader defends strong focus on Beijing’s trade strategy in policy address
On Tang’s criticism, Leung said that the government is listening to public opinion on labour issues.
“Whether the government can deliver on the promises will depend on these discussions … but I am determined to deliver on them,” Leung vowed.
New People’s Party vice-chairman Michael Tien Puk-sun was concerned about the English-language standard of the city.
“In your manifesto, you said you would value the English-language standard in Hong Kong, but no policy was proposed to follow up in your four policy speeches since 2013,” Tien said.
Leung countered that “English is a commonly used language and society has always valued it. Not mentioning it in the policy address does not mean that we did nothing”.
In an unexpected move, “Long Hair” Leung Kwok-hung did not protest until the end of the 1.5-hour session and was not expelled.
“It was the first time that I was not expelled [from a Legco meeting with the city’s top official],” Leung said. He assumed office as lawmaker in October 2004.
“People told me to stay and listen to what the chief executive has to say. I did, and now I regret it as he was only shining Beijing’s shoes,” Leung Kwok-hung said.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1901135/response-critics-hong-kongs-cy-leung-vows-deliver-election
