Hong Kong’s government canceled the chief executive’s town hall meetings for the first time over concerns about potential public unrest spurred by pro-democracy protests that ended last month.
Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying’s (梁振英) meet-the-people sessions were called off due to the situation and atmosphere in the territory when they were scheduled, a spokesman for Leung’s office, who asked that his name not be used per office policy, said by phone.
The meetings have been held at least three times annually over the previous five years to gauge public opinion ahead of the annual policy address and budget release. The canceled meetings were due to take place in the final quarter of last year, before the policy speech this month and the budget announcement late next month.
The cancelation of the dialog between Leung and the public indicates that the Occupy Central movement, which ended on Dec. 15 after 79 days of occupation of Hong Kong streets by pro-democracy protesters, is having far-reaching effects on the city’s public affairs.
The South Chinese Morning Post reported the cancelation earlier yesterday.
“It’s a most disappointing decision, because it gives the impression that the Hong Kong government has no intention to directly engage the public communities in a meaningful political dialog,” said Joseph Cheng (鄭宇碩), a political science professor at City University of Hong Kong and a convener of the pro-protest Alliance for True Democracy.
“The Occupy movement has shown Hong Kong society has rapidly polarized, and the best way to reduce polarization is to address the entire community in an open manner,” Cheng said.
The government started consultations for this year’s policy address and the 2015-2016 budget in mid-October last year, inviting the public to air their views via a Web site or by e-mail, phone or fax.
The consultation exercises were meant to “enable more comprehensive discussion with the community” and should allow the government to “collect views from members of the public extensively and thoroughly,” according to a statement on the government’s Web site.
Scuffles have broken out at public forums between pro-establishment and pan-democratic groups. In 2013, police arrested four people involved in clashes between pro and anti-government groups at a public meeting with the chief executive, local media including the South China Morning Post have reported.
Leung is to deliver his policy address on Jan. 14 and Financial Secretary John Tsang (曾俊華) will present the 2015-16 budget to the Legislative Council on Feb. 25, according to a statement on the government’s Web site.
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