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Following is the transcript (English portion) of the media stand-up session by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Frederick Ma, after visiting the Inland Revenue Department today (July 8):

Reporter: What is going to be your most difficult job in the next six months?

Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury: We have many difficult jobs, of course. You know we have to make sure that the citizens understand our policies, and that the citizens understand how the Government is going to deal with the policies.

Reporter: What would you like to watch out for the next six months?

Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury: I guess for the next six months, we would like to see Hong Kong continue to be a very, very prosperous place. We want to make sure that Hong Kong will continue to enjoy the prosperity and stability.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion)

End/Tuesday, July 8, 2003

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