(March 16): A leader of a new pro-Beijing political party said an overhaul of how Hong Kong picks its leaders could weaken property interests enough to enact policies to address the financial hub’s infamous housing issues.
An “outdated legislature” and “a lot of other political bickering” have gotten in the way of solving the city’s housing problem, Bauhinia Party co-founder Charles Wong Chau-chi said in an interview Tuesday.
“If we have electoral systems that are far more open, with the right representation, then in a way we can actually dilute a lot of the political, a lot of monopoly you’re talking about,” Wong told Bloomberg Television. “A long-term housing policy in Hong Kong is necessary, so no one should stand in its way.”
As China moves to neutralize Hong Kong’s pro-democracy opposition, it’s also giving the green light to a new political party that provides a window into how Beijing may change the territory in the years ahead.