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Following is the transcript (English portion) of the media session by the Financial Secretary, Mr Henry Tang, after attending a radio programme this (December 16) morning:
Reporter: Given the expected budget surplus for next year, is it likely that we can see any tax concession or other government initiative to ease the burden of the public?
Financial Secretary: When I became the Financial Secretary in 2003, in my first Budget (2004-2005 Budget), I set a five-year target to recover from deficit into a fiscal surplus situation. Although we achieved that target three years in advance, which meant we achieved it in two years instead of five. This result came through shared hard work and collective efforts of the government and the community. So it was not something we had done it easily. It was a shared hard work, determination and through a lot of perseverance. So, we will certainly take a cautious approach when I consider how to go forward from here. We will not be reckless.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Saturday, December 16, 2006
Issued at HKT 12:06
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