Policy Address

3.         The Government is doing its utmost to increase land and housing supply in the short, medium and long terms. We have implemented measures to manage demand and effectively curbed rising property prices. Meanwhile, we are formulating a long-term housing strategy for the first time in 15 years.

4.         To demonstrate our courage and determination to tackle the poverty problem, the Government reinstated the Commission on Poverty (CoP) and set an official poverty line for the first time. The Government introduced the Old Age Living Allowance (OALA) to benefit more than 410 000 elderly people. The criteria under the Work Incentive Transport Subsidy Scheme were relaxed to help ease the travel expense burden on the working poor.

5.         The Government released A Clean Air Plan for Hong Kong last March. The new Air Quality Health Index, released daily from the end of last month, shows the Government’s determination to improve air quality. The Government will allocate $11.4 billion to replace pre-Euro IV diesel commercial vehicles. The Hong Kong Blueprint for Sustainable Use of Resources 2013-2022 published last May maps out the strategy, targets, policies and timetables for waste management in the coming ten years. On municipal solid waste charging, the Government has started a new round of consultations.

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