Society

Hong Kong chief describes annual policy address as daring

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-10-17 15:58

HONG KONG -- Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chief Executive Donald Tsang said Sunday this year's policy address was daring as it tackled head-on some of the more difficult issues facing Hong Kong -- conflicting interests, relationship between the city's government and key players in society  -- and long-term policies that might take more than one administration to see through.

Delivering his letter to Hong Kong radio broadcast in the day, Tsang said he has tweaked some existing policies and introduced new ones.

"I have taken a fresh approach to poverty alleviation by setting up a Community Care Fund. It is daring, because the initiative expands the government's role beyond the traditional approach of funding welfare services and welfare programs," he said.

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Tsang said the fund would target those who fall outside the net of conventional social services.

In his policy address at the city's 60-member Legislative Council on Wednesday, which was live broadcast to Hong Kong's 7 million people, Tsang said the city's government would set up Community Care Fund for the whole community to share the fruits of prosperity.

The policy address is the annual address by the Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Usually, it is addressed in October, on the opening of the Legislative Council.

Of the 10 billion HK dollars (US$1.29 billion) for the fund, the Hong Kong government and the business sector would each contribute 5 billion HK dollars to support people in need in areas not covered by the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme.

"I have been talking to some business leaders and, judging from their keen response, I am confident we can hit the target," Tsang said in his letter.

Tsang also said education was the key to upward social mobility, hence, he has doubled the assistance for textbooks to 1,000 HK dollars for full-grant students, and to 500 HK dollars for half- grant students.

More government-subvented university places, and scholarships for students on self-financing post-secondary programs will also be provided, according to Tsang

He also said the 10 infrastructure projects are proceeding nicely and in the next few years, the city government will invest more than 50 billion HK dollars into these projects and other capital works schemes every year.

"That is a record high. These projects will secure many jobs for our construction industry and modernize our physical infrastructure," he added. (US$1 equals HK$7.760 )