Economic Development, Our Priority

"Hong Kong must constantly enhance its competitiveness and continue to evolve into a high value-added, knowledge-based economy to maintain its leading edge over global competitors and create more quality jobs."

Traditional Pillar Industries

Financial Services

Continue to develop Hong Kong as a global financial center, asset management center and offshore RMB business center attracting capital and talent from within and outside the country

Tourism

Press ahead with construction of the new cruise terminal at Kai Tak and attract cruise vessels to homeport in Hong Kong

Trading and Logistics

Make available a number of permanent sites around Kwai Tsing for use by the trading and logistics sector to facilitate its shift to high-value goods and services

Professional Services

Continue to facilitate access to the mainland market for Hong Kong's professional services through the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA)

Redevelopment of Industrial Buildings

Optimise land use by releasing the potential of over 1,000 old industrial buildings through policies that encourage the redevelopment or conversion of industrial buildings by owners

Six Industries

Education Services

Reserve sites in Ho Man Tin and Wong Chuk Hang for operators providing self-financing degree programs

Medical Services

Reserve four sites at Wong Chuk Hang, Tseung Kwan O, Tai Po and Lantau for private hospital developments. Facilitate the development of Chinese medicine by expediting the setting of standards for Chinese herbal medicines commonly used in Hong Kong

Testing and Certification Services

Draw up a three-year development plan for the industry

Environmental Industries

Expand the SAR Government's green procurement list and actively apply green specifications in procurement procedures to promote the green procurement policy

Innovation and Technology

Allocate about HK$200 million to launch an "R&D Cash Rebate Scheme" to encourage enterprises to invest in research and development

Cultural and Creative Industries

Support local cultural and creative industries to further develop the mainland market through the CEPA

Cooperation with Guangdong

Participate in the development of Qianhai in Shenzhen to promote and enhance our service industries

Enhancing Exchanges between Hong Kong and Taiwan

Promote multi-faceted, multi-level exchanges with Taiwan and consider setting up a multi-functional office in Taiwan at an appropriate time and in an appropriate format

Quality Life

"To support a knowledge-based economy, we must have a rich pool of talent. Only by providing a diverse and dynamic cultural life and a quality living environment can we attract talent from around the world to build a career in Hong Kong."

Conserving Central

Map out a comprehensive strategy for Central's future development from a new perspective and put forward a series of revitalization projects that will add a new dimension to Central

Conserve and revitalize the Central Market as an "urban oasis"

Recommend converting the Murray Building into a hotel

Preserve the Main and East Wings of the Central Government Offices and demolish and redevelop the West Wing for commercial use

Substantially reduce the development density at the Central Ferry Piers sites and open up public space along the waterfront

Promoting the Use of Electric Vehicles

Launch an electric vehicle leasing scheme to promote the use of electric vehicles

Conservation

Succeeded in seeking approval from the Ministry of Land and Resources for our geopark to be listed as a national geopark

Healthcare Reform

Increase healthcare spending from 15% of the SAR Government's recurrent expenditure to 17% by 2012

Work on a supplementary healthcare financing option based on voluntary participation for public consultation next year

Disease Control and Prevention

Provide human swine influenza vaccinations for vulnerable groups

Democracy and Governance

"We will listen closely to the views of different sectors of the community with an accommodating and open attitude."

Consultation on Constitutional Development

Consult the public in November on the 2012 electoral arrangements

Deepening National Education

Deepen national education by strengthening the elements on China in various key learning areas under the primary and secondary curricula, organizing mainland exchange activities for students as part of the national education programme and aligning experiential learning with curriculum objectives and content

Progressive Society

"The progress of a society is measured not just by its affluence, but also by its core values, which include kindness, care for others, mutual support, civic mindedness and respect for traditional values."

Family Values

Launch a Happy Family Campaign to promote family core values

Anti-Drug Policy

Bring in hair drug testing and join hands with the mainland's public security authorities to combat cross-boundary drug abuse and trafficking

Youth Development

Give greater support to youth uniformed groups

Internet Learning

Examine options to provide convenient and suitable Internet learning opportunities for students in need

Elderly Services

Increase the number of residential care places substantially by increasing the proportion of nursing home places in subsidized contract residential care homes for the elderly to 90% and purchasing vacant places from self-financing nursing homes and care and attention homes

Rehabilitation Services

Persons with Disabilities

Increase subvented residential care places and introduce a pilot Bought Place Scheme for residential care homes for persons with disabilities

Mental Health

Revamp community mental health support services, set up Integrated Community Centre for Mental Wellness in all 18 districts, and increase the number of medical social workers

Supporting Job Seekers

Disseminate information on job vacancies to job seekers through convenient channels and establish a recruitment center for the retail industry

(HK Edition 10/15/2009 page2)