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2008-09 Policy Address by Chief Executive (7)
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C.  Care for the People

53.  The second challenge is balancing social interests and upholding social justice.  Public policies should balance the interests of different social strata.  We also need to devise long-term solutions and foster community consensus over controversial policies.  In parallel, we need to take a forward-looking approach in promoting social development.  This includes upholding the family as the core social value of this modern Chinese society and introducing sustainable measures to meet the challenges posed by an ageing population.

Protecting People's Interests

Food Safety

54.  To better ensure food safety, the Government has been working on a comprehensive Food Safety Bill for introduction in the current legislative session.  The recent milk product incidents have highlighted the inadequacies of existing laws and the need to speed up the legislative work.  The Government has set up an expert group to thoroughly assess the impact of the melamine incidents and to recommend follow-up measures to the Chief Secretary for Administration on the healthcare and food safety fronts.

55.  The Government will give priority to drafting the relevant part of the Food Safety Bill so that the authorities can promptly ban the import and sale, and order the recall of, problem food when necessary.  We will soon introduce the Bill into the Legislative Council.

Protection for Flat Buyers

56.  Purchasing a flat is an important investment decision for most people.  Clear information about the flats for sale helps prospective buyers to make an informed choice.  To address the problem of different definitions of "saleable area" adopted by real estate developers, the Transport and Housing Bureau worked with relevant sectors to standardise the definition of "saleable area" for uncompleted first-hand residential properties.   "Saleable area" includes only the area of the unit, balcony and utility platform.  Other areas such as bay windows will be listed separately, item by item.

57.  The Government amended the relevant provisions of the Consent Scheme early this month.  Since then, the sales brochures for uncompleted residential units offered for the first time should carry the standardised definition of "saleable area", and developers will adopt the new pricing template for these units.  The Consumer Council and the Estate Agents Authority are stepping up publicity and education for the public and estate agents.  This includes publishing leaflets that remind flat buyers of the information they should get as well as requiring estate agents to provide prospective buyers with comprehensive and accurate information on unit areas and selling prices.

Information on Consumer Prices

58.  The Consumer Council has rolled out measures to provide the public with information on the prices of various goods.  To enhance the transparency of prices, and to expedite the flow of information, the service will be expanded to include a wider range of goods.  This will help consumers make informed choices.

Tolls for Harbour Crossings

59.  The Government appreciates the public's concern about traffic congestion at the harbour crossings and the different toll levels.  We will commission a consultancy study on this issue this month.  While the complexity of the problem should not be underestimated, we will endeavour to find a long-term solution that is feasible in transport, financial and legal terms, and develop strategies for possible negotiations in the future.

60.  Adjusting the tolls of the three crossings alone cannot effectively solve the congestion problem.  Well-developed road links to the crossings are also a crucial factor.  Traffic congestion in Central and Wan Chai will not be alleviated until the Central-Wan Chai Bypass project is completed.  The Bypass will also help rationalise the traffic flow of the three crossings.  

Competition Law

61.  Consumers benefit from a business environment conducive to free competition.  I pledged last year to introduce a Competition Bill in the 2008-09 legislative session.  The Government published a consultation paper on a competition law in May this year.  We are now working on draft legislation based on views collected during the exercise.  We expect to introduce the Bill in the current legislative session.

Fuel Prices

62.  In response to public concerns that fuel prices are "quick going up, slow coming down", we have asked the oil companies to promptly adjust prices in tandem with international oil price movements, and be more transparent in price setting so the public can monitor their retail prices.  We are now discussing specific measures with the oil companies.  If it is found that fuel prices are indeed "quick going up, slow coming down", the Government will consider further measures to protect the public interest which may include tightening the monitoring of fuel prices through the petrol station tendering process.  We hope the community will actively discuss the fuel price issue.  This will enable us to strike a balance between maintaining a level playing field for business and protecting consumer interests.  

(To be continued)

Ends/Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Issued at HKT 11:47

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