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    Following is the speech (English only) by the Acting Chief Executive, Mr Henry Tang, at a luncheon at the Jockey Club Box, Shatin on the Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Day today (May 29):

    Ronald, Tobias, ladies and gentlemen,

    I would like to express my sincere thanks to The Hong Kong Jockey Club for inviting me here as your guest today. I always enjoy my visits to the races, but today is especially rewarding because it gives me the chance to meet and say a personal thank-you to some of the many, many people who brings the community care activities of the Club to fruition. You are the people who really make these projects happen, and all of us in Hong Kong owe you our heartfelt thanks.

    I was delighted when I heard that the Club was planning a new annual race day to showcase its contributions to the community, because this is a very special and distinctive feature of the way horse racing is organised in Hong Kong - one of which we can all feel proud. I'd like to congratulate the Club on its launch of this first Community Day meeting, and add my own thanks to Mr Tobias Brown, whose generous donation of what is now The Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Trophy has really been the catalyst.

    This partnership between horse racing and the community has not only proved very beneficial for Hong Kong over the years, but is also widely admired around the world. It's an asset that all of us would strive to protect. This is one reason why the Government has been holding detailed discussions with the Jockey Club on the question of betting duty reform. We are especially anxious to combat the growing threat of illegal and offshore bookmakers, who are bringing about extensive social problems and eating into the Government's tax revenue, but give nothing back to the community.

    I'm pleased to say we have now reached agreement with the Club on a package of reforms that will modernise the present betting duty system and, I believe, provide a winning solution for all parties concerned. The community, the Government and the Jockey Club will all benefit from this new package. We presented the proposals to LegCo two weeks ago and intend to introduce a Bill later this year.

    I would now like to turn to another bill currently being examined by the Legislative Council, it was introduced in my first Budget last year, concerning introduction of the Personalised Vehicle Registration Marks (PVRM). According to our estimate, the PVRM scheme will generate additional revenue of 70 million dollar a year. I think it actually is going to end up more because it is a fun scheme, it nurtures creativity and allows you to give a message to your loved one in more ways than one. I have decided to allocate the revenue arising from introduction of this PVRM scheme to strengthen direct services provided to those in need to help them overcome their challenges so that they can improve the livelihood of themselves and that of their families. In other words, I would use the net revenue to complement the work of the Commission on Poverty. Our objective is not to hand out money because that is not what is needed. The objective is to promote self-reliance through helping people to help themselves and to enhance the standard of services provided by all the NGOs here today. It is something on a recurrent basis to enhance the service and motivation of all you very dedicated people here today.

    Thank you very much.

Ends/Sunday, May 29, 2005

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