Hong Kong chief secretary appeals to opposition lawmakers to cooperate in boosting city’s economy and improving people’s livelihoods

The government hopes to work with all lawmakers on the basis of mutual respect, tolerance, and rationality, Matthew Cheung writes on his blog

This year’s policy address will aim to improve people’s livelihoods and promote Hong Kong’s development, he says

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Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung says the government will listen to views of various quarters with an open attitude to improve governance. Photo: Nora Tam

Published: 8:38pm, 13 Oct 2019Updated: 10:00pm, 13 Oct 2019

Hong Kong’s No 2 official has appealed to opposition lawmakers to cooperate with the government and not block works projects and relief measures worth more than HK$93 billion (US$12 billion) aimed at improving people’s livelihoods and jacking up the economy.

Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung Kin-chung’s appeal came two days after pan-democrats resorted to filibustering to derail the first meeting of the Legislative Council Finance Committee, which was reduced to a shouting match.

In a piece posted on his official blog on Sunday, Cheung, the right-hand man of the city’s leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, wrote: “Having a good rapport between the executive and legislative branches is the key to effective governance.

“For the sake of the citizens’ welfare, the government hopes to work with lawmakers from across the political spectrum on the foundation of mutual respect, tolerance, rationality, and in the spirit of seeking common ground while accommodating differences.

Hundreds of anti-government protesters vandalised the Legislative Council on the anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese sovereignty on July 1. Photo: Nora Tam

“The government will adopt an open attitude and will continue to listen to views of various quarters to improve governance. We appeal to lawmakers to ensure the legislature can operate in an orderly, efficient, and smooth manner, to avoid stagnating Hong Kong.”

Hong Kong chief secretary appeals to opposition lawmakers to cooperate in boosting city’s economy and improving people’s livelihoods

The government hopes to work with all lawmakers on the basis of mutual respect, tolerance, and rationality, Matthew Cheung writes on his blog This year’s policy address will aim to improve people’s livelihoods and promote Hong Kong’s development, he says

The government hopes to work with all lawmakers on the basis of mutual respect, tolerance, and rationality, Matthew Cheung writes on his blog

This year’s policy address will aim to improve people’s livelihoods and promote Hong Kong’s development, he says