Aviation boost among BPA's policy recommendations

The Business and Professionals Alliance (BPA) has put forward 130 proposals in nine key areas for the upcoming Policy Address, with the theme of boosting the economy and people's livelihoods.

One of the suggestions is for the government to implement measures to encourage airlines to add new direct flight destinations and increase flight frequencies.

Party leader and lawmaker Jimmy Ng said connecting the SAR with its partners across the region will generate economic benefits.

"For Hong Kong’s future development and to align with the development of the Greater Bay Area, countries under the Belt and Road Initiative and Middle Eastern countries, I believe increasing direct flight destinations and frequencies to these places will promote the flow of talent, logistics and capital," he said.

"This means more economic and people-to-people exchanges, which would create a brighter future for Hong Kong."

The party also called for efforts to promote high-end tourism, recommending a new theme park centred on local movies.

To improve livelihoods, the BPA called for the establishment of a dedicated committee to support the middle class and the removal of the two-tiered salaries tax regime.

The party also wanted to speed up the development of the Northern Metropolis.

The BPA urged the government to align the annual policy blueprint with the city’s inaugural five-year plan, establishing an assessment mechanism for various development goals to help build a shared vision for the future.

Edited by Edmond Fong ...