Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chief Executive Tung
Chee Hwa, in his Policy Address for 2004 delivered Wednesday,
highlighted how Hong Kong can seize new opportunities to build on
the current economic recovery, meet the challenges of globalization
and improve governance.
Delivering the second Policy Address of his second term, Tung
said he was optimistic about Hong Kong's economic prospects and
expected to see a continuing decline in unemployment and an easing
of deflation in 2004.
The Policy Address, titled "Seizing Opportunities for
Development, Promoting People-based Governance," outlined many
positive factors underpinning Hong Kong's economic recovery.
They include a growing Chinese mainland economy and an improving
world economy, closer interaction between Hong Kong and the Chinese
mainland and particularly Guangdong and Shanghai, the
implementation of the Chinese Mainland/Hong Kong Closer Economic
Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), the operation of personal renminbi
business by local banks, the expansion of the Individual Visit
Scheme for residents from the Chinese mainland.
The chief executive said Hong Kong would continue to develop and
reinforce opportunities for the core industries of financial
services, producer services, logistics and tourism as well as
promote new growth opportunities in areas such as manufacturing,
high-tech industries, creative industries, the local community
economy and international asset management.
He said his government would continue to improve the business
environment for attracting more overseas investment.
To simplify procedures and improve regulation, the Financial
Secretary will establish a new high-level body by merging and
reorganizing the committees under his purview.
The Financial Secretary will also head a new task force to
comprehensively coordinate the planning and development of major
infrastructure and development projects on Lantau.
To meet the challenges of globalization, Tung said Hong Kong
would continue to invest in and develop education services and
promote employment and training so that members of the community
could equip themselves with the skills and knowledge to find work
and reach their full potential.
In particular, HK$1.2 billion (US$154 million) will be set aside to
implement three employment initiatives.
He said 11,000 temporary positions will be extended and that the
Youth Work Experience and Training Scheme will be extended by two
years, to place into employment 10,000 people aged between 15 and
24.
The Chief Executive said that over the past few months he and
his colleagues had paid particular attention to keen public
expectations for improved governance.
"We know that there are inadequacies, which will require a
redoubling of our efforts to improve," said Tung.
"We are determined to put the interests of people at the
forefront of our administration and we will fairly and justly
manage the community's different interests and points of views,
thereby enhancing our policy making capabilities. We will involve a
broad spectrum of society in the formulation of policies," Tung
Chee Hwa said.
He said the measures were designed to benefit Hong Kong's
political stability and orderly development, economic revival and
social peace and the preservation of harmonious relations with the
Chinese mainland under "One Country, Two Systems."
These goals would be achieved by enhancing the Principal
Officials Accountability System, improving policy-making
capabilities, gaining a better grasp of public sentiment,
strengthening advisory and statutory bodies, reinforcing
cooperation with the legislature, enhancing work in districts,
attaching importance to the middle class, supporting the
participation of women and carrying out a proper and serious
constitutional review, he said.
Tung said his government attaches great importance to
constitutional development and would strictly follow the Basic Law
in handling the matter.
He said President Hu Jintao had pointed out to him the serious
concern and principled stance of the Central People's Government
(CPG) toward the development of Hong Kong's political
structure.
Chinese mainland legal experts and certain individuals in Hong
Kong had also expressed their views on the matter, he said.
"We definitely need to understand the full implications of these
important issues, before making appropriate arrangements for the
review of constitutional development," he said.
Tung said he would set up a Task Force, headed by the Chief
Secretary for Administration and including as members the Secretary
for Justice and the Secretary for Constitutional Affairs, to
seriously examine the issues, particularly those concerning the
understanding of relevant provisions of the Basic Law, and consult
relevant authorities of the CPG.
"The government will encourage all sectors of the community in
Hong Kong to continue considering and exploring these issues
rationally, as well as expressing their views, so that the relevant
arrangements can be made as early as possible," he said.
Tung said Hong Kong had experienced an extraordinary year
overcoming the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak
and dealing with the fiscal deficit.
He said the July 1 rally had clearly conveyed people's
dissatisfaction with and expectations of the Hong Kong
Government.?
He pointed out that there had also been significant developments
in Hong Kong's relationship with the Chinese mainland, with the
CPG's concern and strong support providing relief for various
problems and giving new impetus to economic restructuring and
recovery.
"The government is determined to work together with the
community in the days ahead to promote Hong Kong's political,
economic and social development and overcome any obstacles in the
process," he said.
"We share a common goal of developing ourselves into Asia's
world city, a city that will be the envy of the world," he
claimed.
(Xinhua News Agency January 8, 2004)
