Transcript of remarks by CS (with video)
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Reporter: Mr Cheung, did Mrs Carrie Lam invite you to her cabinet?
Chief Secretary for Administration: I have nothing further to add. I made it quite clear before about my heart for the Hong Kong community, my heart with the people of Hong Kong, I stand ready to serve, if given the opportunity to do so. Okay?
Reporter: So about the improvement of the Old Age Living Allowance, until now the LegCo (Legislative Council) still hasn't passed the bill, do you fear that the timetable for the allowance may not be confirmed so early?
Chief Secretary for Administration: We are adopting a very pragmatic approach this year, with emphasis on the well-being of all eligible senior citizens. Particularly, once the Appropriation Bill gets passed through LegCo, we will start processing the application, and start dispersing the payment to them. And in fact, the effective day will very much depend on when the Bill is enacted through LegCo. If it is enacted for example in May, then we will start giving payments on the first of May. If it is June, then it is first of June. If it is July, then it is first of July. So, it much depends on when the Bill gets passed at LegCo. It is very important. So, the earlier the Bill is passed, the earlier the elderly recipients will be benefited. It is a very important point of choice. We are very concerned about the well-being of our elderly citizens in Hong Kong. If you remember the Financial Secretary's promise, giving out an extra month's allowance, so-called "double-pay". This "double-pay" will also commence as soon as the Bill is enacted.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Sunday, April 2, 2017
Issued at HKT 17:31
Issued at HKT 17:31
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Audio / Video
CS meets the media