"To promote the well being of the people is the most fundamental task of a responsible government ...... We have incomparable advantages: a high degree of autonomy under 'One Country, Two systems'; abundant financial reserves; social and economic systems that work well; a sound, comprehensive legal system; we are the southern gateway to China and an international financial, trade and shipping centre. Our future economy will also be strongly supported by the rapid development in China."

The Chief Executive, Mr TUNG Chee Hwa, presented his first Policy Address to the Provisional Legislative Council today (8 October). Here are some of the highlights.

Homes for Hong Kong

• Increase supply of land and build supporting infrastructure to ensure that the target of constructing at least 85,000 flats a year will be met.
• Streamline government procedures to speed up the supply of land.
• Sell 250,000 public rental flats to tenants over the next 10 years, and offer successful applicants for public rental housing the option to buy Home Ownership Scheme flats.
• 6 000 families to benefit each year from a new "Home Starter" loan scheme, providing loans of about $600,000 for each eligible family over the next five years.
• Increase the number of flats to be sold and rented to waiting list applicants to meet target waiting time of 3 years by 2005.
• Establish an Urban Renewal Authority by 1999; implement the Mandatory Building Safety Scheme and set up a $500 million Rehabilitation Fund to provide assistance to owners to undertake inspection and remedial works.
• Build new major railways: complete West Rail (West Kowloon to Yuen Long) by 2002, extended to Tuen Mun by 2003. Complete MTR Tseung Kwan O Extension by 2002.
• Build new major roads: Widen Tolo Highway and Fanling Highway by 2005. Complete Route 9 (Northwest Tsing Yi to Lai Chi Kok) by 2006; Sham Tseng Link (Northwest New Territories to Northeast Lantau) by 2007.

Education

• Set up a $5 Billion Quality Education Development Fund to finance innovation in education.
• Improve training and facilities for the teaching profession. Designate 10 September as "Teachers' Day".
• All kindergartens to have at least 60% qualified teachers by 2000.
• 60% of primary schools to become whole day schools by 2002. Abolish all floating classes by 2000.
• Provide 700 more native English-speaking language teachers for secondary schools.
• Universities to develop centres of excellence.
• Introduce new non-means tested loan scheme for tertiary students.
• Grant $50 million to Open University to develop adult and distance learning.
• Review education structure, curriculum and examination system.

Care for the Elderly

• Increase monthly CSSA payments for the elderly by $380.
• Extend programmes to help the elderly living at home. Review existing public housing allocation policy to encourage families to live with their elderly members. Establish an "Elderly Volunteer Programme" to encourage participation by the elderly in community life.
• Set up 12 elderly health centres in 1998-99 to provide preventive and curative services.
• Provide 2 400 more subsidised residential care places under the "Bought Places Scheme".
• Commission for the Elderly to review demand and system of provision for residential care.
• Provide an additional 23 social centres for the elderly in 1998-2002.

Better training for workers

• Reform training and retraining programmes to make workers more responsive to market needs. Provide new courses to equip workers for tomorrow's industries.
• Provide training for skilled workers in the construction and textile and clothing industries.

Connecting to the Information Age

• Build up Hong Kong's Information Infrastructure.
• 1 Bureau to take charge of information technology policies.
• Adopt a 5-year Information Technology Education Strategy to enhance teaching and learning.

Business and Industrial Development

• Provide a $50 million grant to the Service Support Fund to help improve service industries.
• Construct the Science Park, the Second Industrial Technology Centre and the Fourth Industrial Estate.
• Provide $100 million for the HK Tourist Association to establish an International Events Fund to promote tourism.
• Set up a Film Services Office and a Film Services Advisory Committee.

Planning and Environment

• Establish closer co-operation with mainland authorities on infrastructure and environmental planning.
• Waste Reduction Programme to start in 1998. To consult the public on a sustainable development agenda for the 21st Century.

Health Care

• Conduct a Review of Health Care in 1998.
• The new Kowloon Bay Primary Health Care Centre and Nursing Home to start operation in 1998.
• Establish a legislative framework to recognise and regulate the practice of Chinese Medicine.
• An additional 754 hospital beds to be brought into service in 1998.

Newly Arrived Citizens

• Co-ordinate the provision of services under the Secretary for Home Affairs.
• Provide 6 more primary and 19 more secondary schools before the 2001-02 school year. Run school-based programme to help newly arrived children.
• Continue to provide job training and retraining and services to help new citizens find employment.

Public Administration

• Civil Service to introduce target-based management processes to improve services.
• Election of Legislative Council on 24 May 1998.
• Review the structure of the Municipal Councils and the District Boards.

Foundations of a Stable Society

• The rule of law and independent judiciary will be sustained.
• A low and predictable tax regime, a free market and a small, light-handed and efficient Administration will be maintained.
• The Police Force and the ICAC will continue to receive support to improve professional training and efficiency in combating crime and corruption.