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Faces of the 'people-based' government
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Chief Secretary designate Henry Tang: Tang said in the next few
years the government should concentrate on sustainable development in
order to generate more jobs and improve people's livelihoods so that they
could share the fruits of economic progress and a harmonious society could
be realized. He pledged to abide by the common values shared by Hong
Kong people, encourage communication and seek consensus and work
diligently for the SAR's long-term development, prosperity, stability and
harmony. He also vowed to uphold the Basic Law's principle of realizing
universal suffrage according to the actual situation in a gradual and
orderly manner. Financial Secretary designate John Tsang: Tsang said
he would strive to help Hong Kong develop into an international financial
metropolis. He vowed to embrace the principle of "big market, small
government" when developing the economy and adhere to the prudent
financial management principle of spending within the means. He would
do his best to enhance Hongkongers' quality of living and create a
harmonious society with family as the core. He would also help poor
people and create jobs for them. He would provide different forms of
relief to the impoverished elderly people, children and families. He
promised to follow up on the more than 200 projects proposed during the
Economic Summit held in response to the country's 11th Five-Year
Plan. Secretary for Justice designate Wong Yan-lung: He said since
the Basic Law provides that the SAR has to legislate for Article 23 on its
own, the SAR will have to do it. Citing the CE's remark, he said the SAR
government has to find the appropriate time for the process, but he
admitted there is no concrete timetable at the
moment. |
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Michael Suen, Secretary for Education designate Suen said the
immediate task is to implement education reform policies. He promised to
foster consensus on different issues and do his best to persuade others to
take on the government's views. "Then it is for the administration and the
lawmakers to make sure that we are able to merge the different views into
a workable formula which suit our particular circumstance." Referring
to the report of the Commission of Inquiry on Allegations relating to the
Hong Kong Institute of Education, he said he would first study the report
and discuss with his colleagues after taking office next month to reach a
consensus and come up with a standard on academic freedom. Frederick
Ma, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development designate Ma said
he would continue to try his best in the interest of the people to
communicate and listen extensively. He said that even though the words
"Technology" and "Industry" are deleted from the name of the new bureau he
will head, he would attach equal importance to all portfolios within his
scope, be they industry, creative industry, commerce, technology, or
broadcasting. Stephen Lam, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland
Affairs designate Lam said one of the priorities of the third-term
government is the publication of a constitutional development green paper
and the launch of a three-month public consultation, as Chief Executive
Donald Tsang had vowed during the election campaign that he would resolve
the universal suffrage question within the next five years. Besides, the
government will come up with a proposal on the introduction of new posts
of under-secretaries and assistant to the heads of the policy bureaus in
the second half of the year. Ambrose Lee, Secretary for Security
designate Thanking the people of Hong Kong and his colleagues for
helping to make Hong Kong one of the safest cities in the world, Lee
pledged to work with the public and various government departments to
maintain law and order, prosperity and stability in Hong
Kong. |
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York Chow, Secretary for Food and Health designate Chow said that
for the next five years he would continue to make Hong Kong a healthier,
cleaner and safer city together with his bureau and government
colleagues. Denise Yue, Secretary for the Civil Service designate
Yue vowed that she would continue to communicate and build up mutual
trust with various ranks of the civil service, trade union
representatives, civil service associations, lawmakers and the citizens at
large to maintain a clean, efficient civil service. Tsang Tak-sing,
Secretary for Home Affairs designate Tsang said home affairs officials
and other officials of the Hong Kong SAR government have done a lot to
promote national education but it is worth exploring further to enhance
the people's understanding about the country. Matthew Cheung, Secretary
for Labour and Welfare designate Cheung, admitting "his heart and
emotions are tied to the laborers and grassroots", declared that he would
not be biased toward the labor sector. "In tackling labor issues, we need
to balance the interests of the employers and employees. We also need to
look at the overall interest of Hong Kong and go in tandem with economic
development in Hong Kong. It is understandable that employers always see
things differently from employees. And that's why we need to work harder
to coordinate, reconcile and maintain harmony between the two
sides." He also made it clear that the minimum wage issue would be a
priority task for the future. |
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K.C. Chan, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury designate
Chan believed Hong Kong has the qualities of an international
financial center and it has growing demand for more financial products
arising from the mainland's speedy economic development. "If we can
grasp these opportunities, we can build up a financial center and bring to
Hong Kong massive economic and employment opportunities, as well as help
the economic development of our country in the long run," he said. "As to
challenges, we have to face global competition and we need to do better in
market development and product innovation." Carrie Lam, Secretary for
Development designate Lam said the Development Bureau would seek a
balance between heritage and environment protection and the people's quest
for quality life. She also vowed to work closely and coordinate with the
revamped Environment Bureau, and Transport and Housing Bureau, in order to
remove inconsistencies that occurred in the past. Edward Yau, Secretary
for Environment designate Even though he had no prior experience in
environment issues, Yau said he knew very well that environmental
protection was one of the issues that the people are most concerned with.
"We will work hard with the civil service, citizens, the industry, green
groups and hope we can have a blue sky and better living environment
within this term." Eva Cheng, Secretary for Transport and Housing
designate Cheng said she would build a close working relation with
relevant government bureaus and departments through her past experience
and serve the people of Hong Kong with a people-oriented approach. She
also pledged to create the conditions for building quality homes for Hong
Kong people. | |
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