Transcript of remarks by CE at media session (with video)
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Reporter: My first question is, like FS considered to relax the criteria to cover those who may not be benefitted from the Budget. So does that mean in this year's Budget, some part of the community is forgotten? And my second question is that, the sources said there will be a merge between the Taiwan Affairs Office and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office. It is something that could be triggered because of the Hong Kong independence in recent years. Thank you.
Chief Executive: Well, the answer to the second question is simple. I am not aware of any plan, so I cannot comment on it. As far as your first question, I would say that it is not a deliberate omission of some of the groups in society when we said we want to share, we are very caring and so on. But if you look at the existing mechanisms, we have a tax system, we have a social security system. So, the Financial Secretary has built on these systems to provide the caring relief. But he did acknowledge that there will be some gaps and that is why in his Budget speech, he said that he would use the Community Care Fund mechanism to devise a scheme to expand the coverage, so that those who we feel legitimately to share in the economic prosperity of Hong Kong should be given that opportunity. So the question now before us is really to listen more and to devise a scheme which we feel will be as comprehensive as possible in caring for the people whom we feel should deserve a share in Hong Kong's prosperity.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Sunday, March 4, 2018
Issued at HKT 13:58
Issued at HKT 13:58
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Audio / Video
CE meets the media