Unprecedented Postponement of Policy Address

Lam announced her policy address will be made next month

Hongkongers were anxiously anticipating Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor's annual policy address this Wednesday, to give the city an idea of what direction the government is going to take. It is more crucial now with Hong Kong having gone through the coronavirus pandemic since late January to know how the authorities will keep the economy going and support its residents.

However, on Sunday it was announced by state media that Chinese President Xi Jinping would visit Shenzhen to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the special economic zone. 

Xi to visit Shenzhen on Wednesday

This morning in a hastily arranged press conference, Lam said that the all important policy address would be postponed to November so that she could lead the Hong Kong delegation to the event. And besides, she still had to go to Beijing later this month to meet with senior Chinese officials, hinting perhaps there would be more support for Hong Kong's recovery.

Xi must have known Lam was scheduled to give the policy address on Wednesday, so it's interesting she is dropping everything to rush across the border to see her boss, even though Lam insists she doesn't even have a meeting planned with him.

Critics were quick to point out Lam probably didn't have a policy address planned, that she had to wait for further instructions from Beijing. Others scorned the perception that her going to Shenzhen was more important than giving the policy address, which has never been postponed before.

"Hong Kong people have expectations on the policy address because their lives have been difficult under the pandemic," says Wu Chi-wai, chairman of the Democratic Party.

Wu accuses Lam of not making HK a priority

"Lam is basically ignoring their woes and turning Hong Kong's policy address into a document approved by Beijing." 

But pro-establishment lawmaker Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan said it was more practical for Lam to discuss her plans with Beijing first.

"Without discussing the actual content with mainland ministries, the policy address will only be a wish list... After she visits the ministries, the measures can be implemented and the document will be turned into an action plan," he said.

However, she surely has been discussing her policy address ideas with the liaison office here... otherwise what is their reason for being in Hong Kong? Surely they can give an indication of what would and wouldn't work?

During today's press conference, Lam insisted the Hong Kong government was being proactive about proposing ideas to Beijing.  

Cheung says Lam needs Beijing's advice

"This is the gist of 'one country, two systems' -- that the central government is unswerving in caring about Hong Kong, and under the 'two systems', the chief executive puts forward proposals rather than just following Beijing's plans," she said.

Under British rule, the tradition of the governor delivering the policy address at the first meeting of a new Legislative Council session began in 1969. The convention continued after the 1997 handover of sovereignty to China, with the city's chief executive continuing the tradition.

In an unprecedented move last year, Lam delivered her policy address via a video message, after her speech in the Legco chamber was repeatedly interrupted by opposition lawmakers chanting slogans during the anti-government protests triggered by the since-withdrawn extradition bill.

Lam delivered last year's policy address by video

It is expected on Wednesday that Xi will deliver "a crucial speech" in which he is expected to stress China's commitment to reform and opening up. It is also expected he may give more clearer hints on Hong Kong's role in the economy in the Greater Bay Area.  

Nevertheless, Lam's unprecedented decision to postpone the policy address reveals more about her and her relationship to Beijing. Wonder if she will be rewarded for her loyalty...