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Following are the opening remarks by the Chief Executive, Mr C Y Leung, at a press conference of the Economic Development Commission held at the Auditorium of the Central Government Offices, Tamar, today (March 13):
The new Government places as much emphasis on economic development as it does on livelihood issues, because only when we have a robust economy, an economy that grows at a reasonably high rate and in a sustained way, can Hong Kong society - that includes Hong Kong Government, employers and the people generally - have the necessary resources to tackle many of the deep-seated problems that we have in Hong Kong, including poverty, housing issues, ageing society and so on. And we have heard from members of the industry, finance and business sectors proposals from time to time, and we believe that it is necessary for us to get together, the captains of industry, academics and also professionals, around the same table and sitting as members of a commission, and this is the Economic Development Commission, to tell Government what to do.
I asked members of the commission to make, instead of commentaries, to make proposals to Government as to exactly what they expect Government to do. If they could tell Government that "If Government could do for me 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, then the following would be the benefits for the industry and therefore for Hong Kong", then Government will seriously consider them. And if Government adopts any or all of these recommendations, they will become part of my next Policy Address and become part of the Financial Secretary's next Budget.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the opening remarks.)
Ends/Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Issued at HKT 17:36
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