Transcript of remarks by CS on the Budget (with video)

Transcript of remarks by CS on the Budget (with video)
******************************************************

     Following is the transcript of remarks at a media session by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Henry Tang, on the 2009-10 Budget at the Legislative Council Building this (February 25) afternoon (English portion):

Chief Secretary for Administration: The Financial Secretary has just announced his 2009-10 Budget. It is an outstanding Budget that has long-term and short-term measures, as well as a pragmatic Budget. The global economy will be facing many uncertainties and challenges in the coming year. In his Budget, he has a number of measures that will protect and promote employment in Hong Kong. I think these measures are very good and very appropriate. In the medium to longer term, he has invested into our competitiveness by infrastructural development and infrastructural investment. These, again, will create employment as well as enhance our competitiveness in the longer term. He has also a number of measures that will help underprivileged groups and create a caring society. These are all very appropriate measures and fulfil the mission of the Budget.

     The Budget has carefully balanced and heeded the views of many people in society, so I urge people to collectively support the Budget.

     Just now, a few individual LegCo members disrupted the delivery of the Budget. We deeply regret such a move. The Budget is an important annual policy initiative that concerns our economy, our society and all aspects of people’s livelihood. Difficult times like this and economically challenging times like this, call for unity, including the Administration and the legislature, to overcome the challenges. Legislative Council has a solemn duty to approve the Budget. When preparing the Budget, the Financial Secretary has taken into account the views of many aspects of the community and all members of the Legislative Council. We hope to engage the Legislative Council on the basis of mutual respect and we believe the community will not condone unruly behaviour in the chamber that disrupts the normal proceedings of LegCo.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

Ends/Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Issued at HKT 15:18

NNNN