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CE's speech in delivering "The Chief Executive's 2025 Policy Address" to LegCo (13)
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(I) Social Development

Establish a Working Group on Ageing Society Strategies

265. The Government is committed to building an elderly-friendly society. Established following the last Policy Address, the Working Group on Promoting Silver Economy announced 30 measures in May. The Government will collaborate with the Federation of Hong Kong Industries to formulate the "Silver Q-Mark", and with the trade to consider setting additional GBA Standards for silver products to facilitate the provision of more options for the elderly.

266. Ageing is a global issue. By 2046, people aged 65 and above will account for 36% of our total population. To tackle challenges of an ageing society, the Government will set up a Working Group on Ageing Society Strategies under the steer of the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration to co-ordinate the efforts of various bureaux in formulating the relevant strategy responses. Aside from covering areas such as elderly care, healthcare, housing, culture and leisure, and gerontechnology, the working group will consider promoting the further development of silver economy. The working group will take into account the views of the Elderly Commission, and submit a report next year.

Promote Women's Development

267. We will increase the annual funding of the Women Empowerment Fund from $20 million to $30 million to subsidise women's organisations and NGOs launching projects that promote women's development. The Government will also host the second Family and Women Development Summit Hong Kong next year.
Promote Fertility

268. On childbirth policy, the current-term Government has shifted from the non-interventionist approach adopted by the Government of the previous terms to the multi-pronged policy approach launched in 2023 to promote fertility. We have introduced various tax concessions, including raising the tax deduction ceiling for home loan interest or domestic rents, introducing a new tax deduction for the medical expenses of assisted reproductive services, and increasing the basic child allowance and additional child allowance in the year of birth. We have also implemented various support measures, including launching the Families with Newborns Allocation Priority Scheme to shorten the waiting time by one year for PRH applicants with newborns, introducing the Families with Newborns Flat Selection Priority Scheme, providing additional places for child care services, extending the After School Care Programme for Pre-primary Children to all 18 districts in Hong Kong, and introducing the Newborn Baby Bonus of $20,000.

269. At the end of August, more than 5 300 PRH applications had their waiting time reduced by one year under the Families with Newborns Allocation Priority Scheme. In the recent HOS sale exercise with flat selection concluded in August, over 800 families with newborns purchased their flats under the Families with Newborns Flat Selection Priority Scheme.

270. The number of newborn babies has decreased for six consecutive years since 2017, but there was an upward trend in 2023 and 2024. In 2024, there was a significant increase in the number of newborns, a year-on-year increase of about 3 500 babies, or about 11%, adding up to 36 700 babies born in total.

271. We will implement further measures under the multi-pronged policy approach to promote fertility. They include:

(i) Extend the claim period of additional child allowance for newborns from one year to two years. Starting from the year of assessment 2026/27, a taxpayer may claim twice the allowance (i.e. $260,000) for each child in the first two years following childbirth. This measure is applicable to all children under the age of two by the end of the year of assessment.

(ii) Further enhance infant and child day care service. Fifteen new aided child care centres (CCCs) will be set up over the next three years to provide about 1 500 day care service places for children between birth and three years old, almost doubling the existing supply. The SWD will also allocate more care-service places for infants and toddlers from birth to two years, as appropriate.

(iii) Enhance the School-based After School Care Service Scheme within this school year by removing the cap on the number of places to make it easier for parents to take up jobs.

(iv) Set up dedicated counters for pregnant women to facilitate their waiting for medical services. The PHC Commission will, together with the Family Planning Association of Hong Kong, the MCHCs under the DH, as well as the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Departments of the HA, enhance health education and services for women during pre-pregnancy, as well as antenatal and postnatal stages, providing them with practical information.

(v) Support assisted reproductive services. The Council on Human Reproductive Technology has made amendments to the legislation, removing the statutory storage periods of gametes and embryos for own use, offering greater flexibility to people who wish to give birth. The amendments will take effect from this December. Moreover, the HA will continue to increase the service quota for assisted reproductive service from 1 100 treatment cycles two years ago to 1 500 treatment cycles in 2025-26.

(vi) Foster a family-friendly culture. We will continue to encourage more employers, through the Good Employer Charter²⁵, to adopt family-friendly employment practices that are conducive to childcare, such as flexible working hours.

Protect Children and Provide Support for Students

Strengthen Family Cohesion and Safeguard Children

272. The Government will set up an Integrated Family Service Centre in Kwu Tung North NDA in the Northern Metropolis, to support families and children in the area. In addition, we will support and educate divorced/separated parents to collaborate in shouldering continuous and joint parental responsibilities in raising their children. We will also offer transitional support to young people who no longer receive residential child-care services but lack family support.

273. To complement the implementation of the Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance, the Government has promulgated the Guide for Mandated Reporters to assist mandated reporters in mastering child protection principles, and will continue to provide training and relevant resources for specified professionals from the social welfare, education and healthcare sectors. The EDB will also step up promotion of positive parenting education.

Enhance Support for Children with Special Needs

274. For children with special needs receiving On-site Pre-school Rehabilitation Services, the Government will provide bridging and support services during their first term in primary school.

Provide Support for Ethnic Minorities

275. Ethnic minorities (EMs) are important members of the Hong Kong community. The Government has been striving to support EMs on various fronts, including Chinese-language learning, daily living and community integration.

Strengthen Support for Ethnic Minorities' Integration into the Community

276. The HAD will set up one additional EM Care Team under the Support Service Centres, serving the North and Islands Districts respectively. The department will also establish a Youth Network and a Women's Network at the 10 Support Service Centres for EMs to organise activities specifically for EM youth and women. Moreover, the Government will set up an additional Interpretation and Translation Service Centre for EMs in December. We will also strengthen the promotion of messages and radio programmes related to racial integration. In addition, the Health Bureau will also take forward the pilot project of providing emotional support and counselling services for EMs through a service centre.

Employment of Ethnic Minorities

277. We will continue to implement the government department internship programme for EM post-secondary students and will provide basic workplace Chinese training. Government departments may design their own job-oriented language tests to provide an additional channel for applicants to meet language-proficiency appointments. We will also disseminate government recruitment information to EMs on an ongoing basis, to attract talents from different backgrounds to join the civil service.

Provide Support for Non-Chinese Speaking Students

278. The Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi Chinese Proficiency Test learning materials, tailored for non-Chinese speaking students, will be extended from the upper primary level to the junior secondary level in the 2026/27 school year. We will also continue to provide after-school Chinese language courses and organise cross-school, teacher-learning communities.

Continuously Enhance Care Team Services

279. Care Teams across 18 districts will soon begin their second term of service. Having regard to district needs, we have set up three additional Care Teams and revised the KPIs for the second term of service. To enable Care Teams to continuously enhance their services, the Government has increased the subsidy by 50%, in accordance with last year's Policy Address, and provided these voluntary Care Teams with additional administrative support, including hiring administrative staff. As for emergency support, we will enhance training so that Care Teams can continue to strengthen ties with government departments, public utilities and district organisations.

Improve Building Management

280. To improve building management, the HAD will implement a number of measures, including establishing working groups under DCs to share experience; expanding the Pilot Scheme on Joint Property Management to other districts based on its effectiveness; and reviewing the Building Management Ordinance.

281. We will enhance the inspection and testing procedures for handling water seepage problems by utilising technology to expedite the identification of the seepage situation and delineate the responsibility, requiring owners to inspect and rectify within a specified time, or else the Government will take further action and recover costs from owners. This will prompt owners to fulfil their obligations in properly maintaining their properties. We will also actively promote mediation to resolve disputes between residents. An Internet of Things fire detection system will also be introduced in old buildings to replace traditional fire service installations and equipment.

Chapter X Closing Remarks

282. Today, Hong Kong is at the critical juncture of advancing from stability to prosperity. We are moving through an irreversible economic transition, but it is an essential process for a stronger and more robust economy in the future.

283. Over the decades, Hong Kong has undergone multiple economic transitions. Once, the bustling Sheung Wan night market (the "Dai-tat-dei") sold paraffin lamps that were a big business until modern malls made them unnecessary. Bustling factories that once competed for female labour have since relocated their production lines to the Mainland, opening new horizons for the manufacturers. Pagers, once a common sight in every hand, have been replaced by smartphones, leaving behind empty pager shops as relics of a past era. Each change brought about a stronger economy and higher income for the people.

284. These transformations were possible because generations of Hong Kong people have worked hard, stayed flexible, and never given up. That grit is part of our DNA, and it will continue to be the engine that drives us forward.

285. We must not be complacent, nor should we underestimate our own capabilities. In the last three years, Hong Kong has climbed higher thanks to the teamwork of the Government and the community. We have risen one spot to become the world's third-largest international financial centre, and our overall competitiveness has jumped four places to also rank third globally. In talent competitiveness, we have leapt twelve spots, now sitting at fourth in the world. The number of registered local companies has hit a record high, as has the number of non-local companies setting up operations in Hong Kong. The median household income has also grown by 11%, an increase of $3,000. These numbers tell a clear story: investors around the world trust Hong Kong, and our city is vibrant, stable, and poised for long-term growth under "One Country, Two Systems".

286. Hong Kong faces challenges and is also presented with continuing opportunities amid the changing world. Our country, the world's second-largest economy, is our staunchest supporter and the source of our biggest opportunities. Combined with Hong Kong's international prospects, our opportunities far outweigh the challenges. By working together, innovating, and embracing reform, we will turn our beloved Hong Kong into an even better home for everyone. The Pearl of the Orient will keep shining brighter than ever before.

²⁵ Signatories of the Good Employer Charter have to pledge to be an employee-oriented employer and have adopted the good human resource management practices.
 
Ends/Wednesday, September 17, 2025
Issued at HKT 13:58
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