HONG KONG: Local working-class families welcomed several of the policy declarations in the chief executive's policy address yesterday.

For Chan Ping-kwan, a 41-year-old security guard who lives in Tai Po with his elderly father, his wife and a teenage son, the government's plans for medical reform will improve healthcare benefits, and give the benefits wider range.

"The development of private hospitals is important because it gives the public more choices. It's especially true for areas like Lantau, where the residents may like to dash to a private hospital nearby rather than travel to a public one," he said.

Chan also looks forward to the further development of Chinese medicine. He said he believed it to be crucial for the government to extend and regulate its coverage of Chinese herbal medicines, so as to enhance the quality of local clinics.

"There's an increasing number of people in Hong Kong who visit Chinese medicine practitioners when they're sick, but the standards of the clinics aren't so uniform. The government should take the lead in developing the industry," he said.

Chan's wife, Chow Wing-sze, a 37-year-old cashier who works in Central, is excited about plans to preserve historical buildings in Central while giving Hong Kong's oldest district a new look. The district will get a facelift that will prove attractive, Chow said.

"Like many other Hongkongers I'm concerned about the conservation of the Central Police Station and Murray Building. It's good to know that the government is making efforts to preserve their appearance and spirit."

The couple's teenage son, Sam Chan, also applauded the government's pledge to establish a greener Hong Kong by raising public awareness of the importance of a low-carbon economy. He believed the policy set out is a true sign of an efficient international city.

"It's a good move to import more electric vehicles into Hong Kong, and for the government to promote them in collaboration with the two power companies. Electric vehicles already are very popular in Shanghai and we shouldn't lag behind."

Chan's elderly father welcomes the government's increased investments in elderly services, notably the additional subsidized day-care places in certain districts. It will help ease the burden of many families, he said, adding "Some of my friends can't quite take care of themselves during the day, but they don't need full-time maids or nurses at home either. Day care will be very handy, so their children don't have to worry and they can save some money."

(HK Edition 10/15/2009 page2)