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Following are the opening remarks by the Chief Executive, Mr C Y Leung, at a media session at the Office of the Chief Executive at Tamar this afternoon (June 19):
In the past 20 months, the Hong Kong community has been inundated with arguments over the issue of constitutional development. Now that the Government's constitutional development proposal has been blocked by ExCo (should be LegCo), it's time for all of us to move on. We should try to forge consensus on various economic and livelihood issues. There are already initiatives in the pipeline that we should work on. The Government attaches great importance to the relationship between the executive and legislature. The Basic Law has defined the respective roles and responsibilities of the executive and legislature. Both should work together to serve the public of Hong Kong.
I and the Government will now make the first move to work together with LegCo to seize the opportunities for developing the economy and addressing livelihood issues. The Government will propose a series of initiatives to the meeting of the Finance Committee of Legislative Council next Friday, including the relief measures in the Budget this year, enhancement of remuneration package for District Council members, construction of rehab centres and a residential care home, adjustment of pay for civil servants according to the 2013 Pay Level Survey and for 2015-16, establishment of a $1 billion recycling fund and a $1.5 billion increase in commitment for the SME funds.
These measures will improve people's livelihood and propel economic growth. The application for funding for establishing the Innovation and Technology Bureau will follow these items. I hope LegCo will respond positively and take care of both economic and livelihood issues. Thank you.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the opening remarks.)
Ends/Friday, June 19, 2015
Issued at HKT 15:52
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MP4 format
