Policy Address

Care for Society

6.        In times of sustained economic prosperity, people from different strata will benefit from real income growth.  It is a time when everyone strives ahead.  But once the economic tide changes, the community needs to pull together to care for the less fortunate.  The relief measures that the Government announced earlier have progressively come into effect and directly benefit most people.  These include the government payment of public housing rents, an electricity bill subsidy for all households, a rates waiver for the whole year, and extra payments of the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA), Disability Allowance and Old Age Allowance (OAA).  In rolling out these measures, we have made every effort to ensure they cover different sectors so the benefits of economic growth can be shared by all.  Apart from helping people to ride out difficulties in the short term, we encourage our citizens to strive for the best and uphold the Hong Kong Spirit.

Constitutional Development

7.         The HKSAR Government achieved a major breakthrough on constitutional development.  After deliberating my report, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC) made a decision in December 2007 setting out a clear timetable for Hong Kong to implement universal suffrage for the Chief Executive election in 2017, and the Legislative Council election in 2020.

Relationship with the Mainland

8.         A new chapter has opened in Hong Kong's relationship with our country.  The pace of our economic integration is accelerating, while co-operation with Guangdong is about to enter a new phase with increasingly diversified areas of co-operation.  We will contribute to the formulation of the National 12th Five-Year Plan so that Hong Kong can play a greater role in our nation's development.  The 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games were a phenomenal success.  Here in Hong Kong, we shared in the glory by co-hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events.  Astronauts aboard the Shenzhou-7 successfully performed China's first spacewalk and returned to a triumphant welcome from the entire nation.  We have seen a growing sense of national pride and identity in our community.  I firmly believe that we can continue to make the best of the advantages under “One Country, Two Systems”.

 

 

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