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Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, on the Government's livelihood initiatives today (June 21):
Secretary for Labour and Welfare: Now that the dust has settled more or less on the political reform package, unfortunately it has been voted down, I think it is not time for recrimination. It is time for reconciliation. It is time for reconstruction. I think we need to forge consensus on a number of outstanding community and economic issues and move forward, and move forward steadfastly, in a pragmatic manner. And that's why the Government would put forward this Friday (June 26) 11 important livelihood and economic development issues that aimed at really enhancing Hong Kong's competitiveness and also making Hong Kong a better place to live.
On my side of the house, we've got at least four important items, one of which concerns two-month extra allowances for Old Age Living Allowance, Old Age Allowance, Disability Allowance and also Comprehensive Social Security Assistance. We are talking about (an additional spending of) $5.5 billion overall, and benefiting 1.2 million disadvantaged and grassroots citizens. I think it is a very important move. And also, there are three major construction projects. We are talking about building Hong Kong's largest integrated rehabilitation services centre in Siu Lam, Tuen Mun, providing 1 150 residential places. These are most much-needed places for the severely mentally handicapped, moderately mentally handicapped and also severely physically disabled people. Now, all these three projects add up to over 2 000 places, and they represent a very important step forward. I think the Government is determined to rebuild relationship and move ahead.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Sunday, June 21, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:59
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