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Following is the transcript (English portion) of a media stand-up given by the Financial Secretary, Mr Anthony Leung, at the Central Government Offices this (December 16) afternoon after the announcement of the latest unemployment rate:
Reporter: Mr Leung, do you expect that unemployment will continue ?
Financial Secretary: The unemployment situation has been improving for four months in a row. This reflects partly the results of the Government's actions in improving the sectors in trade, logistics, tourism, so on and so forth. We have seen quite a remarkable improvement in the export sectors. We believe that in the fourth quarter, the employment situation as well as the economic condition to be relatively stable to positive. However, in the medium term, there are still a bit of uncertainties in our external markets. Whether there will be a war in the Middle East, whether there will be further economic slowdown in our major export markets. We are watching all uncertainties very carefully. But, all in all, we believe that the situation is cautiously optimistic.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript)
End/Monday, December 16, 2002
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