Roundup: Economy, families and environment top HK policy agenda

Boosting economic development, helping families and intensifying efforts to protect the environment will top the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government's policy agenda in the next year, Chief Executive Donald Tsang announced in his Policy Address in Hong Kong Wednesday.

Delivering his second Policy Address, titled "Proactive, Pragmatic and Always People First," Tsang also promised to lead open and inclusive discussions on a roadmap for the further development of a democratic political system in Hong Kong.

On the economic front, Tsang unveiled initiatives to boost financial services, trade and logistics, information technology, cultural and creative industries, the performing arts and labor rights protection.

To better support families, the Chief Executive announced plans to help parents pay for pre-school education, assist kindergartens upgrade equipment and resources, boost services for victims of domestic violence and increase services and facilities in districts where development gaps existed.

On the environment front, Tsang pledged to provide financial incentives to phase out older diesel vehicles, reduce registration tax for low-emission vehicles, review air quality objectives, and to introduce trial scheme on waste charging.

The Chief Executive said Hong Kong needed to consolidate its position as an international financial center in Asia, which was in line with the interests of both the country and the region.

He said further liberalization was needed to broaden the source of well-qualified foreign enterprises seeking to list in Hong Kong and urged listing rules changes to make this happen.

Tsang said the State Council, China's cabinet, was actively pursuing the expansion of Renminbi (RMB) business in Hong Kong, including the settlement in RMB of direct imports from the Chinese mainland and the issuance of RMB financial bonds.

"The HKSAR government is fully prepared to launch these two new types of business as soon as possible," he said. "We will also endeavor to attract to Hong Kong some of the offshore securities investment business of China's mainland insurance agencies."

To boost the trade and logistics sectors, the government would seek to enter into more economic and trade arrangements with trading partners to enhance overseas market access for Hong Kong's goods and services, he said.

He said the HKSAR government had the responsibility to create favorable conditions for the development of information technology, technology as well as cultural and creative industries.

In response to the convergence of telephony, broadcasting and the Internet, Tsang said legislation would be introduced to form a new Communications Authority and to introduce a regulatory framework to promote innovation and competition on par with advanced international standards.

Tsang said there were still diverse views in the community on whether to legislate for the controversial discussions on a minimum wage and standard working hours.

"Taking into account the views of stakeholders, and having carefully considered our social economic environment, the government considers that the pragmatic approach at this stage is to provide wage protection through non-legislative means," he said.

Tsang said that cherishing the family was a core value of the community and that family harmony was the foundation of social harmony.

"Our social policies will continue to be geared towards supporting and consolidating the family, and fostering the well- being of family members," he said, adding the government would seriously study whether to establish an integrated, holistic and high-level Family Commission responsible for policies and initiatives relating to family support.

Tsang said the government also supported the establishment of an Academy for Gifted Education to nurture students aged 10 to 18 who were excellent academic achievers or distinguished performers in specific areas.

The Chief Executive pledged to provide more resources and facilities in some districts, including Tin Shui Wai and Tung Chung, where past planning and co-ordination imbalances had hampered the development of a suitably favorable family environment.

New facilities such as libraries, indoor recreation centers, swimming pools, sporting facilities and leisure facilities would be provided, as well as enhanced social welfare and employment services.

Tsang expatriated his plan to bring a cleaner and better environment for people living in Hong Kong in response to a strong community consensus on the pressing need to take decisive measures to improve air quality and the environment generally.

On political development, Tsang said he would continue to lead discussions in a positive and responsible manner during the rest of his term, which will end on June. 30, 2007.

He said the Commission on Strategic Development was intensively and extensively studying all issues relating to the future development of the political system with a view to summing up their findings in 2007.

"We have made, and will continue to make, strenuous efforts to draw up a blueprint for the future development of our political system, covering 2012 and beyond," he said.

"I firmly believe that this is the most practicable way in our quest to realize universal suffrage for the election of the Chief Executive and the Legislative Council."

Looking ahead, the Chief Executive said political development was among three major challenges facing the third SAR government, along with sustaining economic development and building a harmonious society.

"These are the thorny issues we need to consider, to tackle and to solve in the days ahead," he said. "An optimist sees every challenge as an opportunity; a pessimist only sees trouble in every opportunity. I am an optimist and I believe most of us in Hong Kong are, too."

Source: Xinhua