Hong Kong people have called on the government to tackle problems that have plagued the city for years once the coronavirus pandemic finishes, as the government looks to meet society’s most pressing needs.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said on Tuesday that she will deliver this year’s Policy Address, the fourth of her term, on Oct 14. Before that, 12 public consultations on the annual government plan will be conducted via online video conferencing starting next week.

Senior businessman David Wong Yau-kar said the key issue at present remains bringing the COVID-19 outbreak under control, which is a prerequisite before the government can tackle other livelihood issues.

The permanent honorary president of the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong told China Daily that after the pandemic fades away, the government should deal with a housing shortage that has plagued the city for decades.

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It’s really important for the government to give people a sense of hope for the future in these highly uncertain times.

David Wong Yau-kar, permanent honorary president of the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong

Official figures show the average waiting time for a public housing unit is more than five years, which Wong described as “unacceptably long”. 

Despite the government’s intention to build a total of 101,300 public housing units in the next five years, observers fear the waiting time for applicants will become longer in that time.

The government needs a long-term plan to speed up land supply; for example, to push ahead with its land reclamation project off northeast Lantau Island, Wong added.

“It’s really important for the government to give people a sense of hope for the future in these highly uncertain times.” 

Aaron Tang, a financial officer working in Central, said the pandemic has provided a chance to solve problems in the city’s healthcare system, such as a manpower shortage during flu season.

It should be easier for medical professionals who were trained elsewhere to practice in the city’s public hospitals, Tang said, citing the case of mainland doctors who had helped bring the outbreak on the Chinese mainland under control.

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Siu Kwan, an information technology engineer, said the government should continue supporting the city’s much-neglected tech and innovation industry, especially nonfinancial tech startups, as they face rising expenses.

“It will be a great boon for the city if one or two such startups grow influential,” Siu said, adding that the government can also invest in futuristic businesses enabled by artificial intelligence rather than following in others’ footsteps.

The Hong Kong government on Tuesday set up two social media pages to hear from local netizens. Two other residents told China Daily that they hope another cash sweetener can be included in this year’s Policy Address.

Ida Xue contributed to this story.

Contact the writer at jefferygu@chinadailyhk.com