ExCo Convenor speaks on Budget
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The following is issued on behalf of the Executive Council Secretariat:

     Following is a transcript of remarks by the Convenor of the Non-official Members of the Executive Council (ExCo), Mr Lam Woon-kwong, at a media session on the 2016-17 Budget in the Legislative Council Complex this afternoon (February 24):

Convenor of the ExCo Non-official Members: I will say a few words in English. This is a cautious Budget but it is understandable because it is made in the view that in the foreseeable future, the world's economy will be in a rather unstable state. So, he needs to be cautious. But despite that, he still uses the reserve to support a few industries, including the innovative and creative industries, and also rather innovative ideas such as iBond for the elderly. Despite the fact that the so-called "candies" may seem a bit fewer this year, he is still doing it. So, I think it is generally a very cautious but good Budget. I am particularly impressed by his concluding part of the speech, I think he spoke out for a lot of Hong Kong people who have gone through this rather rough road and yet still are confident that we can make it for a better future.

Reporter: At the beginning of John Tsang's speech, he talked about the Mong Kok clashes ... Do you think it is going to grow ..., and there may be more clashes and violence?

Convenor of the ExCo Non-official Members: I think all of us who care about Hong Kong, care about our future, care about the welfare being of the people, would feel disheartened and very frustrated, and some would even feel very angry about what happened on that particular early morning. It is not the Hong Kong way. I think the bulk of the Hong Kong people will not accept that. Irrespective of our ideological differences, irrespective of our conflicts, irrespective of all the harsh words, we have to deal with our conflicts in a civilised and rational manner. I think that is already our conclusion. So, I hope the few radical people would listen to the majority of our people and not carry on such irrational and violent acts anymore in the future.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

Ends/Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Issued at HKT 16:35

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