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Transcript of remarks by SFH at media session
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     Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, after attending a public function today (March 4):

Reporter: About the Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme (VHIS), only a tax break of $8000 is offered. Is the Government being too optimistic about its attractiveness?

Secretary for Food and Health: For the VHIS, first of all, the objective is to improve the standard of the hospitalised insurance products currently on the market. The extended protection offered in the VHIS is one of the best incentives that I think most people would like. Another objective is to provide another option for people in Hong Kong who are able to afford and want more choices in healthcare. As far as the tax reduction is concerned, this is one of the incentives provided to people who want to buy VHIS. We want to incentivise young people so that they can start using health insurance or buying health insurance for their own health when they are young.

Reporter: Regarding the tax reduction, do you think it is attractive enough?

Secretary for Food and Health: This is an initial step for people who would be incentivised to taking out insurance and using the private healthcare. It is just the first step and there are more work that we need to do in terms of promotion and making sure people understand what entails in the VHIS.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
 
Ends/Sunday, March 4, 2018
Issued at HKT 13:48
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