The Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong (BPA), the pro-business and second-largest pro-establishment political party in Hong Kong, on Tuesday asked the government to listen more attentively to the middle class and young people who desperately want change.

As reflected by the latest district council election, it is clear that the middle class and young people are unhappy with the government's performance. The government and political parties should listen to them more and do better, BPA Chairman Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen advised.

Six BPA lawmakers met Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying and Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah to submit their proposals for the impending 2016 Policy Address and Budget.

On promoting economic development, the party proposed setting up a commission to handle affairs related to the Belt and Road Initiative. This includes making use of Hong Kong's legal system and institutional strengths. Hong Kong could bid to host the ministerial meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the BPA suggests. The SAR could also set up an arbitration center for Belt and Road countries and enterprises.

The party also proposes a fund to subsidize internship exchange programs in tertiary institutions. This is to enable students to join such programs in Belt and Road countries.

As the Innovation and Technology Bureau has just been established, the BPA hopes the government can increase science and technology research expenditure. The party believes this should rise from 0.8 percent to 1 percent within a year and then to 2.5 percent within 10 years. This should be on top of a 300-percent tax rebate for research and development expenditures, it says.

To assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the BPA proposes re-launching the HK$100-billion special credit guarantee scheme. This is to assist enterprises in obtaining commercial loans from banks.

However, it opposes cancelation of the offsetting mechanism of the Mandatory Provident Fund scheme and legislation of standard working hours. The BPA argues that this may increase the burden on SMEs.

The BPA also proposes a review of the controversial Territory-wide Assessment System. Before completion of the review, it says the system for Primary Three pupils should be suspended.

The BPA said the CE listened carefully to their suggestions and took written notes.

joseph@chinadailyhk.com

(HK Edition 11/25/2015 page7)