public housing from 6 years to 4.5 years within the next 4 years, using a new composite index that would track both LPH and traditional public housing wait times. The Democratic Party warned that the traditional public housing wait times would not be decreased with the introduction of LPH units, and also said that the government was "playing with words and maths" since LPH tenants would still have to be relocated to traditional public housing at the end of their leases. A member of the Liber Research Community also questioned the new metric and temporary housing, stating "Light Public Housing will increase the number of public flats and the wait may seem shorter. But these are just transitional housing supply and it is not "real" public housing." Lawmaker Tik Chi-yuen also raised similar concerns, saying that "So this does not achieve the ultimate aim [of obtaining public housing]. You are just moving people from one place to another. It is just buying time." Lee later said that the LPH and composite index were not meant to "dress up" and lower waiting time statistics. The Housing Authority recommended that the goal for wait times should be 3 years rather than the 4.5 set by Lee. A day after the policy address, officials later admitted that the LPH scheme was created because there was a failure to boost public housing in the next 5 years. The LPH scheme incurred questions from citizens and netizens, saying that the 30,000 units were making up public housing supply numbers. An editorial by SCMP also mentioned criticism of the playing with numbers. On 20 October 2022, Lee participated in a phone-in session with radio stations, where one caller addressed "harsh policies", stating "Hong Kong's always had a lot of talents. It was until the unrest that made people leave. Why are talents leaving? We all know full well. It's not about studying elsewhere or whatever. It's because harsh policies are stronger than tigers... We love freedom in a metropolis like Hong Kong. And we love China, but I dare say it doesn't love us. Japan, the US and the UK all let us in freely. Why are there so many rules [for entering the mainland]? Chief Executive, you know full well, you just wouldn't accept it." On 23 October 2022, Lee defended Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun, who criticized a cartoonist that made fun