Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, at the opening ceremony of HSBC Hong Kong Community Festival 2017 this morning (November 26):

     I just want to pay warm tribute to HSBC for launching this very, very meaningful community day. It's a very worthy cause to pursue. It also reflects the corporate social responsibility of HSBC over the years. I am a beneficiary over the years because I have been the Secretary for Labour and Welfare for many years. Whenever I went to functions sponsored by HSBC, I knew the people would benefit, at the grassroots, as you are really, really generous on that score. The current term of Government is determined to build a more caring, compassionate and cohesive community in Hong Kong. That's why we will be investing more heavily in livelihood areas. For every $100 the Government spends every day now, $21.5 go to education, close to $20 go to social welfare and $17 go to medical and health. But we need community support, and business participation as well. So tripartite co-operation, involving the Government, the business community and the NGOs, like the Hong Kong Council of Social Service will be the recipe for success in building a more caring community. Our motto for current term is to connect for hope and happiness. I am sure that we all can work together to make Hong Kong a better place to live, to work, to do business and also to have a family here. So on that note, thank you once again HSBC. Thank you Hong Kong Council of Social Service -- although you don't contribute money, you contribute energy and contribute co-operation on that score. Thank you so much.

Ends/Sunday, November 26, 2017
Issued at HKT 14:08

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