Lam can be proud of her first 100 days

It has been customary to call the first 100 days in office of a newly elected government leader a "honeymoon period", meaning there is a relative lack of disapproval from the opposing parties or the expectant public during this time because a new administration would usually have so far achieved little and hence have no failures to be criticized for. For Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, there has also been little censure against her since her assumption of office on July 1, not even from those who used to oppose the government over any excuse they could find. That is, however, not because she has done nothing in the first few months, but because she has done what is right. The people know this - but the opposition still finds it hard not to try to indulge in nitpicking.

Indeed, Lam has achieved much more than one could expect in the first few months of her term of office, which was spelt out in a long list she posted on the government website on the eve of her maiden Policy Address on Wednesday.

Her rapid achievements are due to her considerable experience in serving Hong Kong. This has given her knowledge and ideas about how and where to find solutions to existing problems. In fact, she had already identified the missions and priorities of the new administration even before she was elected, and she possesses the determination to put those missions and priorities into practice once she was in office.

During her election campaign, she promised to mend a divided society. In her first 100 days in office, she lost no time and spared no efforts in improving executive-legislative relations by increasing her visits to the Legislative Council to answer questions from legislators. At the same time, she and her team of political appointees reached out to the public through large numbers of district visits.

People's livelihood issues, especially the housing problem, are certainly one of Lam's top priorities. On top of forming a cross-sector task force to review the land supply, Lam has also proposed NGO-operated temporary housing for those waiting in line for public housing, and the "Starter Homes" scheme to satisfy the demands of young homebuyers.

Her emphasis on dealing with youth problems, another deep-seated issue, was highlighted by the increase in recurrent education funding of HK$3.6 billion a year, as well as efforts to engage young people in government's policy research, including a youth development policy.

To achieve the above, the SAR must have a healthy economy. Lam once lamented about Hong Kong's lagging economic situation, saying she did not think the city deserve it. Practicing what she preached, Lam has been actively seeking a way out for the city, which, she rightly believes, lies in further integration into the country's strategic economic development. She has been promoting the city's "super-connector" role for the nation by visiting various foreign countries. The CE has also been discussing with mainland authorities arrangements to further Hong Kong's participation in the Belt and Road Initiative as well as the Greater Bay Area project.

While what Lam has accomplished is significant, what she is planning to do is even more so. We cannot wait to hear about that in the Policy Address to be delivered today.

(HK Edition 10/11/2017 page8)