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Following is the transcript of remarks by the Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang, at a media session after attending the first regional consultation forum on 2009/2010 Budget (English portion):
Reporter: ...about creating jobs and reducing unemployment, is there a certain level or a certain target that you hope to maintain?
Financial Secretary: We don't have a target in mind. But what we want to do is to create as many jobs as we can. So far the Chief Executive has announced a number of very exciting initiatives that will be creating something in the range of about 60 000 jobs just this year alone. We are also pushing forward the 10 large infrastructure projects which by completion will be creating something in the order of about a quarter of million jobs.
Reporter: ... programme about new spending?
Financial Secretary: I haven't gone that close to that sort of specific details yet, but obviously there will be something I will be very concerned of.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion.)
Ends/Friday, January 16, 2009
Issued at HKT 21:41
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