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Following is the transcript (English portion) of remarks by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Henry Tang, at a media stand-up on the 2010-11 Policy Address today (October 13):
The Chief Executive has just delivered his annual Policy Address.
This Policy Address demonstrates the Government's strong commitment to the community in our remaining term. We will continue to take full responsibility, to serve our people and to serve Hong Kong's long-term interest. It remains our mission to improve people's livelihood, to develop our economy, and to promote democracy.
The Policy Address has taken heed of public concerns about livelihood issues including housing, income disparity and welfare of the elderly. It proposes a series of short-term measures and long-term policies that seek to tackle these concerns head-on. For issues that call for more long-term solutions, we have also pointed out the future direction, backed by firm undertaking to conduct thorough and scientific policy research.
The Chief Executive has tasked me to do two things in particular, one is to set up the Community Care Fund, and the other is to review our population policy.
On the Community Care Fund, our objective is to promote joint efforts between the business sector and the Government through a $10 billion fund. This will be a new platform on top of the various programmes and schemes now offered by the Government, NGOs and charitable organisations.
Through the collaboration of community, the business sector, and the Government, this Fund will render timely support to the underprivileged, with particular focus on those who cannot benefit from the existing social services. This is a new endeavour. We will work out detailed proposals after listening to the views of the concerned stakeholders.
As regards population policy, apart from our existing education, healthcare and welfare programmes, we need to focus on two topics in view of our demographic change: the first one is to make better and more convenient arrangements to facilitate those senior citizens who choose to retire and live in the Mainland; the other is about Hong Kong children born to non-resident mothers - their education and living needs when they return to Hong Kong.
These two issues have far-reaching implications on the mode and on the scope of our social services. They also involve things that cannot be handled under existing policies or require co-operation with the Mainland. We hope to spend roughly one year's time to conduct thorough and in-depth study on these issues and we will come up with policy recommendations.
I will not underestimate the size and the complexity of the tasks ahead of us. The Government team will do our very best to assist the Chief Executive in rounding up the support of the community and LegCo and we will tackle and overcome these complex challenges together.
Thank you very much.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Issued at HKT 15:01
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