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Relief measures proposed in the Budget that will be implemented within the next few months will go some way to help people in the low-income group, the Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang, said.
Residents, including market stall operators and shop owners, whom Mr Tsang has met in the past few days have expressed the difficulties they have encountered as a result of recent price rises.
Mr Tsang, who received a briefing on the latest Consumer Price Index figures to be released later today (May 22), said, ˇ§I fully understand the impact of price rises on the low-income residents.
ˇ§I am also wary of inflation. That is why I announced in my Budget a package of relief measures that will have negligible effects on inflation but at the same time will benefit all strata of the community.
ˇ§Some of these measures, such as the grant of $3,000 to Old Age Allowance recipients, one additional month of the standard rate CSSA payments and one additional month of Disability Allowance, will be implemented in July.
ˇ§They will ease the burden of low income families.ˇ¨
The Financial Secretary went to Wong Tai Sin on Wednesday (May 21) and Sha Tin on Monday (May 19) and talked to some residents, market stall operators and shop owners.
He also met two groups of students from Hang Seng School of Commerce and La Salle College. The students had offered their ideas to the Financial Secretary on how to help the poor, such as the issue of food vouchers.
Mr Tsang also had a useful discussion with the chairman and committee chairmen of the Sha Tin District Council.
Ends/Thursday, May 22, 2008
Issued at HKT 15:21
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