The government finds itself facing calls for civil servants’ pay to rise when it is trying to curb a ballooning budget deficit. This may be hard to swallow for Hongkongers amid a sluggish economy with small local businesses struggling.
Most taxis in Hong Kong can still only take cash while popular apps like Uber are harassed by the government. And that’s not a good look for a city with hi-tech ambitions aiming to attract big-spending international travellers.
China finds itself in need of its latest landmark reform as the urban-rural divide keeps growing and the broader economy is seeking new sources of growth. One possible solution is finding better uses for rural land and giving farmers the same legal rights as urban residents to rent, transfer or mortgage their land.