The Democratic Party of Hong Kong requests that the government hear “diverse views” prior to the Policy Address.

The pro-democracy political party is one of few remaining opposition groups in Hong Kong. Most have disbanded since Beijing imposed a national security law in 2020 under which prominent opposition figures have been jailed.

The party said on Sunday it had submitted 60 suggestions covering areas such as politics, human rights, economy, and welfare ahead of Chief Executive John Lee’s third Policy Address next month.

It proposed that the government cease civil service expansion in the face of economic woes. Hong Kong logged an estimated HK$139 billion deficit in 2022-23 and HK$101 billion in 2023-24.

“When the economy is bad and residents are feeling the pressures, does it look good if the government continues to expand its civil service?” Democratic Party Chairperson Lo Kin-hei said in Cantonese during a press conference on Sunday. “I think the government should stop hiring and review the various pay grades, to see if there are positions that could be cut.”

He also suggested that principal government officials cut their salaries in the spirit of experiencing the difficult times alongside residents, according to local media reports.

The government had said the civil service would maintain “zero growth” this year given the prolonged fiscal deficit. In June, civil servants received a pay rise of 3 per cent.

Lo also said Hong Kong must maintain its characteristics as an international financial hub, referring to Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s visit to the city in 2022 to mark 25 years since it was returned from Britain to China.

“That includes safeguarding human rights and rule of law, and also the free flow of information. Residents should be able to speak their minds and make comments to the government without being worried about breaching the law,” he said.

The party also included calls for universal suffrage for the city’s leader and legislature in this year’s proposal, after such calls were omitted last year.

The welfare of inmates and legislation for the protection of sexual minorities were mentioned in the proposal, too.

Lo said his party had hoped to meet with Chief Secretary Eric Chan last week, but to no avail.