| "Recently
we have seen dramatic changes in the world around us and there are
even tougher challenges ahead. We are facing the most acute economic
problems for many years." |
| In his 5th Policy Address, the
Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, The
Honourable TUNG Chee Hwa, has highlighted a number of measures to
help Hong Kong adjust in the face of today's changing world. |
| |
The Chief Executive focuses
on five key areas :
 |
Expanding investment in education and
upgrading the quality of our human resources |
|
Upgrading our hard and soft infrastructure
and improving the business environment |
|
Enhancing the quality of our living
environment |
|
Relieving hardships and creating jobs |
|
Improving the quality of government
administration |
|
| Investing in
Education |
| "Regardless of the economic situation
in the next few years, the Government should steadfastly continue
to increase its investment in education. Education sits at the top
of our social policy agenda." |
Hong Kong needs to further upgrade its education system to meet
the human resource needs of our transformation to a knowledge-based
economy. Initiatives to help achieve these goals include:
|
$5 billion to subsidise continuing education and training
programmes to stimulate life-long learning in the community |
|
Upgrading the quality of teachers from kindergarten through
to secondary school |
|
Increased subsidies for kindergartens to employ more qualified
teachers |
|
A 50% increase in the allocation to secondary schools to create
a better environment for teachers |
|
Employing native English-speaking teachers or teaching assistants
to strengthen English language teaching in primary schools from
the next school year |
|
Reviewing the academic structures of secondary schools and
universities. The review will look at a "3+3"secondary
school structure and a four-year university programme structure |
|
| Infrastructure
and Business Environment |
| "In developing our knowledge skills, we must not overlook
the need to upgrade our hard and soft infrastructure, pushing ahead
with large-scale projects and improving our business environment to
take account of the changing economic landscape." |
| Business
Environment |
|
$1.9 billion to provide financial assistance
to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). This is $600 million
more than the proposed $1.3 billion recommended in a report
released in June by the SME Committee |
|
Investing up to $2 billion to construct
a new exhibition centre in conjunction with the Airport
Authority at Chek Lap Kok |
|
 |
|
|
Setting up the Steering Committee on Logistics
Development and Logistics Development Council to promote Hong
Kong's development as a major international transportation and
logistics hub |
|
A $100 million fund to support, on a matching basis, projects
to enhance professional services in Hong Kong |
|
Making it more convenient for Mainland business people to
visit Hong Kong. Multi-entry business visas will be extended
from the present six months to a maximum of three years, with
each duration of stay extended to 14 days |
|
Looking at ways to relax immigration restrictions for overseas
investors |
|
Establishing an Economic and Trade Office in Guangzhou next
year to strengthen business liaison between Hong Kong and Guangdong |
|
Agreement reached with Mainland authorities to abolish the
quota system for the Hong Kong Group Tour Scheme from January
2002 |
|
Greater travel convenience in visiting the Mainland for Hong
Kong permanent residents who are foreign nationals. Agreement
in principle reached with Mainland authorities to grant three-year
multiple visas for this category of residents |
|
| Infrastructure |
|
$600 billion infrastructure programme involving the Government
and the two railway corporations over the next 15 years |
|
A proposed high-speed railway from Hong Kong to Shenzhen to
link with a planned Shenzhen-Guangzhou express line, cutting
travelling time between Hong Kong and Guangzhou to one hour |
|
Agreement with Mainland authorities to target 2005 as the
completion date for the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Western Corridor.
This will strengthen transport links with the Pearl River Delta |
|
| Enhancing Our
Living Environment |
| "As a world-class city, Hong Kong must provide
its people with a clean and comfortable living environment. Together,
we will build a civil society in which everyone can take pride, as
well as enjoy a healthy and positive lifestyle in a rich cultural
environment." |
|
Agreement with Guangdong authorities to reach a consensus
by April 2002 on a plan to implement long-term measures
to improve the air quality of the region |
|
More resources to improve environmental
hygiene and greening efforts |
|
Speeding up the redevelopment of older urban areas while
preserving their characteristics and cultural heritage
|
|
 |
|
Examining ways to make sports activities more popular
and constructing more quality sports facilities |
|
|
