Posted by
Ed
17 yrs ago
We're not seeing much in the way of stimulus idea from the Hong Kong government.
We've saved surplus cash for rainy days - as pointed out in the new Spike we're in a deluge...
Let's suggest some ways the government could invest in the future of Hong Kong and stimulate the economy over the long term.
The Harbour - or better known as the sewer.
Let's get proper sewage treatment and clean this mess up - it is the most spectacular in the world and if it didnt smell like a toilet could be a huge tourism draw.
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- Fourth harbor tunnel from North Point.
- MTR extension to Kennedy Town.
- MTR extension to Aberdeen.
- Hybrid buses.
- Incentives for scrapping old trucks and replacing them with new ones equipped with particulate filters.
- Incentives to "build green", saving water and electricity.
- Incentives to replace old air conditioners with new, more energy efficient ones.
And just a personal wish:
- New sidewalk on Repulse Bay Road just east of the Repulse Bay building. It's narrow and buses pass within inches of pedestrians. There's plenty of space to put an elevated sidewalk beside the road (just a slope there now). This would also result in a wider road, meaning buses could pass each other more easily.
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Force all senior government officials to leave their offices and enter the real world for an hour each day without their cars/yesmen/minders.
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Ed
17 yrs ago
Tax breaks on hybrid/electric cars. Cleaning up the air in Hong Kong would have long term benefits including reducing health care costs + imagine the global PR that would go along being the first city in the world to go in this direction - instead of spending truckloads of cash on saying we are Asia's World City - show we are Asia's World City with actions and get the PR machine spinning...
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Aren't they planning those MTR extensions?
The Hong Kong government has never been afraid to start massive public works projects, which are known as fiscal stimulus packages everywhere else.
If you want to argue that perhaps they should spend on the things you suggest fair enough, but it would be unfair to characterise, the SAR governments as a hoarder of cash.
There is a 30 Billion US dollar airport, multiple cross harbour tunnels,mass transit railways, new container terminals. They spent money on infrastructure and will never be afraid to do it, we have had a few white elephants like the stadium.
Should they start spending money on more environmentally sound policies, definitely, but I think it would be unfair to say the HK government behaves like scrooge and wont return tax dollars or deficit spend when times become tough.
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"Aren't they planning those MTR extensions?"
I think so. But how about starting construction? ;)
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they have started with the Kennedy town Saiyingpun MTR.
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"How about getting rid of the antique coal burning power station on Lamma Island and replace it will something clean and green."
Coal is not dirty by definition, but I see your point.
The really clean alternative (meaning "clean air and water") with enough power would be nuclear, but then you have waste to get rid of.
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How about building lots of low cost but decent housing for the people? I heard it takes quite a number of years to get housing from the government. That way, people's standard of living will increase and maybe HKG people living in the mainland while commuting here daily to work will be lessened.
Build more hospitals and schools.
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"How about building lots of low cost but decent housing for the people? I heard it takes quite a number of years to get housing from the government. That way, people's standard of living will increase and maybe HKG people living in the mainland while commuting here daily to work will be lessened."
After seeing the results of public housing programs in both Europe and the US, I am skeptical to such. The best results seem to be in places like Canada, where a certain number of units in any building need to be rent controlled (I'm sure it's more complex). That way there is a mix of more and less affluent in the same areas, as opposed to ghettos with just poor.
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The housing situation in HK is comparable to most of continental Europe, where people can still get public housing if they can't afford to buy private. Whereas in England they have followed an American model, altough modified. As far as I know, people on low-income are on a long waiting-list for public housing, which seems to last forever. In other words: forget about decent housing and be prepared for flat-sharing for a very long time (forever). A friend of mine used to live for 3 years in London, and couldn't be more happy to return back to Amsterdam. Axptguy38, you obviously haven't been living in Europe at all (except as a traveller perhaps), so don't come with your generalisations about public housing in Europe. Every country in Europe has a different scheme, but I'm pretty sure that Holland can match public housing in Canada any time. I can't see American citizens flocking to Canada, can I?
But the major point is that investment in public housing is always in the interest of the public: lots of people may become middle-class, but not everyone stays middle-class (especially when a down-turn comes every decade or so). Of course, forming of ghettos where crime is rife should be avoided at all costs. It is difficult but possible, and requires discipline and cooperation from local communities.
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Public housing in HKG is functioning pretty well although lots of improvements can be made. It's not really a ghetto. I've been to the one in Wah Fu (near Bel-Air). Seems decent enough although I think the size is too small for 3 generation families living together. I think in such a place they probably have 1 or 2 bedrooms at most. Anyway, as opposed to the US and Canada where housing is still affordable, HKG has one of the most expensive housing in the world. (unless you live in NT) I really support for more public housing, it generates jobs, gives people better living standards etc... I do not support though public housing in prime areas such as the one in Stanley. I think the government can make better use of that land.
Definitely more hospitals are needed. I'm tired of hearing about the long wait list to give birth, etc....
On another note, the government can probably open a biodegradable plastic bag factory hahahaha...
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"Axptguy38, you obviously haven't been living in Europe at all (except as a traveller perhaps), so don't come with your generalisations about public housing in Europe. Every country in Europe has a different scheme, but I'm pretty sure that Holland can match public housing in Canada any time."
I was born in Europe and lived there about 30 years. Does that count? ;) But I grant your point that each country has a different scheme.
"I've understood that he's from Sweden and the country itself is an extreme example of a welfare state (and in some aspects example of the failure of welfare state concept)"
You hit the nail on the head. Growing up in Sweden really made me wary of excessive welfare state policies.
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The government can build 2 kinds of public housing just like it did before. One is for sale at a reasonable price and one is for rent. I heard somewhere that public housing rental for that tiny cubicle is about 1k-3K? Am I right or is this totally off? At 3K, it really isnt much a handout since theoretically the housing authority can still make money out of it. As for selling units, I think the breakeven for construction cost for a very basic unit is about HKD400/sq ft. It costs RMB1,200/sqm in Dongguan, China (confirmed cost). So if the government sells the units at HKD600/sq ft not only will they help people to own their own homes, they'd also be making money.
The problem here is that the HKG government always kowtow to the wishes of the big real estate players!
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Do you read the newspaper Ed? The government has implemented two huge givebacks in the past two years. Maybe you didn't notice that $300 a month deduction from your electric bill or the $4800 maid tax disappearing, but the government has rightly given back a lot of money to the people of Hong Kong as it should. However, i would suggest that they need to give incentives to the private bus companies to switch over to electric vehicles and to adjust the temperature on buses from 12 to 23 degrees !
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