Policy sustainability must be taken into account: CE

Chief Executive John Lee has emphasized that financial sustainability and responsible resource allocation must be considered when crafting policy. In his upcoming Policy Address, Lee proposed 11 measures to encourage higher fertility rates, including increasing the maximum mortgage loan-to-value ratio for certain applicants. During a Legco question-and-answer session, lawmaker Scott Leung inquired whether the fertility initiative could be expanded to all applicants, noting that young people often avoid marriage and parenthood due to housing instability.

Lee responded that policymakers must factor in the long-term financial implications of such policies, as unsustainable commitments could strain public resources. He explained that some initiatives may be temporary or one-off in nature to mitigate this risk. In response to a question from Education sector lawmaker Tang Fei about attracting top tech talent to Hong Kong, Lee highlighted the city's strong tertiary education system, boasting five top-100 universities.

He also stressed that the government will make significant efforts to recruit AI specialists, citing advantages such as Hong Kong's internationalization and the Five-Year Plan's focus on technology and industry development. Lee assured that the government will prioritize talent, technology, and industry growth, and that the city's five-year plan will set more ambitious goals in the future.