The core members of the Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong submit policy proposals to Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu (center) on Aug 28, 2023 in Hong Kong. (PHOTO / BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONALS ALLIANCE FOR HONG KONG)

The Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong on Monday outlined its key priorities for the city’s annual Policy Address, scheduled for Oct 25, including ensuring the timely completion of crucial infrastructure and enhancing support for local businesses, especially small and midsized enterprises. Unveiled on Monday, the political party’s package of suggestions consists of 130 pieces of advice spanning 13 areas, including the economy, youth development, livelihood issues, and cross-boundary exchanges. 

After submitting the suggestions to Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, Lo Wai-kwok, a lawmaker and the party chairman, said the suggestions focus on fostering new economic priorities for Hong Kong in the post-pandemic era and improving people’s livelihoods. 

READ MORE: HK: Calls grow for better use of public housing

Lo emphasized that restoring and further boosting people’s confidence in the city is critical to the future direction of Hong Kong. He said comprehensive infrastructure development projects — such as the Northern Metropolis and the Kau Yi Chau Artificial Islands projects — can help, as they can raise people’s expectations of Hong Kong’s broader development prospects. 

Lo also said that many infrastructure projects in Hong Kong are unable to be completed on schedule for various reasons. He hopes the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government can learn from previous failures and ensure the ongoing projects are finished on schedule. 

The alliance also proposed policies to aid local enterprises and create a talent-friendly environment in Hong Kong. 

The alliance advises lowering the standard profits tax rate to 15 percent while offering tailor-made policies involving land supply, tax reduction, and subsidies for different industries to attract investment

For instance, the alliance advises lowering the standard profits tax rate to 15 percent while offering tailor-made policies involving land supply, tax reduction, and subsidies for different industries to attract investment. The SAR government should also strengthen its cooperation with other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the countries and regions under the Belt and Road Initiative, to help Hong Kong enterprises and tap a greater market. 

The alliance also suggests that city authorities provide various types of tax incentives as well as rent subsidies to help people settle down after they arrive in Hong Kong through the city’s talent-attraction programs. 

READ MORE: HK enhances legal advice support to help less fortunate

The alliance said it hopes the Hong Kong SAR government can make it more convenient for local professionals to work on the Chinese mainland, including helping Hong Kong engineers obtain the mainland’s equivalent professional qualifications. The authorities should also take measures to facilitate Hong Kong people’s working, living, and leisure activities in the Greater Bay Area, the alliance said. 

The public consultation of the Policy Address began on July 31. Last week, the Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions (FLU) outlined 31 proposals, encompassing labor rights, professional education, green vehicles, social welfare and population growth. 

FLU Chairman Lam Chun-sing urged the SAR government to launch more attractive policies to reverse the city’s downward fertility rate. 

He proposed providing at least 10 days of paid parental leave per year for each parent with a child younger than 3 years old while giving every father at least seven days of paternity leave so they can take care of their wives and newborn babies. 

Lam also advised the government to subsidize each locally-born child of a Hong Kong permanent resident parent for the child’s first three years as well as extending the School-based After School Care Service Pilot Scheme to all 18 districts in Hong Kong. 

READ MORE: CE: Public insights important in setting govt policy

FLU Secretary-General Chau Siu-chung suggests that authorities provide incentives, including allowances and flexible working time, to help women with children strike a balance between work and parenting needs. 

The FLU also called for the government to launch a comprehensive study on the industrial model of the platform economy — referring to businesses using digital platforms including food-delivery and ride-hailing services — and to make clear guidelines to allow workers engaging in these businesses to enjoy a minimum wage, workers’ compensation insurance, the Mandatory Provident Fund, and other labor rights through legislation. 

Contact the writer at williamxu@chinadailyhk.com