Task forces hailed for tackling livelihood issues

The establishment of four task forces by the new government a week after it assumed office has demonstrated its efficiency and resolution in addressing public issues, representatives in various sectors said.

In his landmark speech on July 1, President Xi Jinping expressed hope for the sixth term Hong Kong government to earnestly address people's concerns and help them create a better life.

In response to the call, newly inaugurated Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu set up four task forces on Wednesday, aiming to tackle intergenerational poverty among disadvantaged young people, land supply, district affairs and the building of public housing. These interdepartmental groups are being led by the government's secretaries and deputy secretaries.

In the first phase, the task group for youth poverty will help 2,000 junior high school students living in subdivided units by providing them financial support, assisting them with making plans, and arranging mentors to offer guidance.

Jacky Ko Chung-kit, secretary-general of the Y.Elites Association, said the government is already delivering on its policy goals by setting up the youth-related task force. "It has walked the talk, and showed a high efficiency and strong resolution in addressing people's needs."

With experience in helping disadvantaged young people, he noted that such a task group is much-needed, as it can teach the youngsters how to enrich themselves and seek opportunities by themselves, instead of only providing financial support.

Hoping for a further expansion of the plan's quotas, he also proposed to enrich the plan with more internship programs on the Chinese mainland in scientific research, cultural and sports activities and even aerospace exploration.

By doing so, the less-privileged students could have a bigger impact on the nation's development, which will be of great help for them to broaden their horizons and climb social ladders, Ko said.

Among the four working groups, two are set to tackle the land and housing supply that have troubled the city for decades.

The group on land supply pledged to publish a forecast of the city's available land over the next 10 years. The other group on public housing aims to offer 100,000 units in the following five years.

Lawmaker Lau Kwok-fan said he is happy to see that the government has given priority to land and housing issues. He hopes related officials can further shorten the waiting period for public housing and streamline procedures. He also wants to see a more ambitious timetable to deliver on the government's goal of shortening the waiting time for public housing to three years.

Anthony Chiu Kwok-wai, executive director of the Federation of Public Housing Estates, believed the two task forces focusing on land and housing supply could better coordinate different departments and reduce unnecessary procedures. As the whole process is accelerated and more houses become available and affordable, people's well-being will be greatly enhanced, Chiu said.