In expanding the scope of its work, the Hong Kong Chinese Importers’ and Exporters’ Association (HKCIEA) strives to come up with new ideas. Under the coordination of Vice President and Honorary Secretary Wan Hang-ping, HKCIEA hosts the Political and Business Talk following the HKCIEA Council meeting every month. On 21 August 2023, Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho Wing-yin was invited to be a keynote speaker of the talk and give a briefing on the latest development of Hong Kong’s public housing policy. She also exchanged views with council members.

In his welcome speech, Vice President and Honorary Secretary Wan said that Hong Kong’s public housing policy has always been the most important economic and social policy. He thanked the current government, in particular Secretary Ho, for stepping up efforts to build more public housing since she took office and for launching the Special Allowance for Households of Transitional Housing. He added that the administration has made great progress in cracking down on abuses of public housing, and that the results of Secretary Ho’s work are obvious to all.

Vice President and Honorary Secretary Wan also shared with Secretary Ho HKCIEA’s views on the property market, saying that the government should ease some of the spicy measures targeting the property market and improve the business and investment environments in Hong Kong, given the drastic changes in the external environment and rising interest rates.

During the event, Secretary Ho pointed out that the government is making all-out efforts to increase housing supply, speed up projects, boost effectiveness and enhance housing quality. The government can now be sure that in the decade to come, there will be enough land to build 360,000 public housing units. Besides, with the launch of transitional housing and light public housing, the average waiting time for public housing is expected to drop to 4.5 years!

After the talk, President Pui Kwan-kay, who had just returned to Hong Kong from a business trip, together with Vice President and Honorary Secretary Wan and Vice President Tony Pang Chor-fu, presented a certificate of appreciation to Secretary Ho as a token of thanks! More than 50 people attended the event, including Vice Presidents Jimmy Wong Chi-hung, Paul Leung Yuk-hung, Ho Chi-ho, Andrew Chan Shiu-shan, Eddy Li Sau-hung and Kenneth Chan Kin-nin, and Vice Honorary Secretaries Michael Lee Chi-fung and Sophia Lee Shuk-woon. During the interactive session, the council members enthusiastically exchanged views with Secretary Ho on how to improve public housing policies and other issues, including importing talents and accommodation for migrant workers.