Hong Kong Protests: Lam's measures may create more job opportunities
Updated 13:04, 11-Sep-2019
Hong Kong's Special Administrative Region government has taken several measures geared toward improving the livelihood of the region's people. Chief Executive Carrie Lam released the outline in the hopes of alleviating the current social unrest. In a sign of the mounting economic costs of the protests, CGTN's Tang Bo takes a look at how the city is trying to lessen the impact of the unrest.
Months of protests, no end in sight. The current social unrest in Hong Kong has dealt a blow to its economy, specifically its tourism sector. Last year, Hong Kong was one of the world's most visited cities, with 30 million tourists. Now it has seen a 40 percent drop in visitors from last year, according to Hong Kong's Financial Secretary. 
Last week, Carrie Lam, the region's chief executive, announced a package of four actions to look into the fundamental causes of the unrest. And on Tuesday, she reiterated that she will talk to the citizens.
The Hong Kong SAR government has also taken some other measures to improve the livelihood of Hong Kong's people. That includes a public consultation for legislation on treating the terminally ill, and land reclamation for reconstruction projects.
CHAN KIN-POR CHAIRMAN, LEGCO FINANCE COMMITTEE "Reconstructing hospitals, apartments as well as repairing the roads can not only improve our infrastructure, but also create job opportunities. There are over 400,000 builders in Hong Kong, and their lives would get better because of it."
Chan also says a smooth dialogue with citizens is equally important to diminish the impact of the protests.
CHAN KIN-POR CHAIRMAN, LEGCO FINANCE COMMITTEE "Hong Kong has become a public relations hub. A large amount of social media is leading people to see police enforcement rather than vandalism by radical protesters. So the Hong Kong SAR government needs to strengthen its public relations, respond to a request for a clarification quickly, and show public the investigative data so as to stop the misunderstanding between citizens and the police from stirring up."
TANG BO HONG KONG "Some economists forecast the hit from the protests will take Hong Kong's economy to a technical recession later this year. And Carrie Lam said that the four actions require a process of deliberation. Therefore, bringing the city back on track politically and economically will not happen overnight. Tang Bo, CGTN, Hong Kong."