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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 1993
THE TAX CUTS HAVE NOT AFFECTED OUR ABILITY TO FIND MORE MONEY FOR EXISTING PROGRAMMES, AND FOR NEW INITIATIVES AND CAPITAL
INVESTMENTS.
LAST OCTOBER, THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED AN EXTENSIVE PACKAGE OF IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMMES, OUR HEALTH AND HOSPITAL SERVICES AND OUR SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES. WE WILL BE ABLE TO FINANCE ALL THESE TARGETS, AND MORE.
FOR EXAMPLE, I WAS ABLE TO ANNOUNCE TODAY NEW HELP FOR POORER PARENTS WHO PAY KINDERGARTEN FEES. I ALSO PROPOSED FASTER PROGRESS WITH THE SCHEME TO MEET THE HOUSING NEEDS OF THE SANDWICH CLASS, AND A NEW HOUSING DEAL FOR STAFF IN GOVERNMENT-SUBVENTED SCHOOLS AND WELFARE ORGANISATIONS.
BUT I BELIEVE WE CAN AND SHOULD DO MORE. OUR ECONOMIC STRENGTH AND OUR PAST BUDGET SURPLUSES MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO TACKLE NEW PROJECTS IN 10 AREAS WHICH WILL CONTRIBUTE SUBSTANTIALLY TO OUR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC WELLBEING. THESE NEW PROJECTS INCLUDE A MAJOR NEW HOSPITAL FOR NORTH DISTRICT, HELP FOR HAEMOPHILIACS WHO HAVE CONTRACTED AIDS AND FOR THOSE WITH WORK-RELATED ILLNESSES. THE TRANSPORT SYSTEM IN THE NORTH-WESTERN NEW TERRITORIES WILL TRANSFORMED. WE WILL BE ABLE TO RELIEVE CHRONIC ROAD CONGESTION IMPROVE THE TRAFFIC FLOW ACROSS THE BORDER WITH GUANGDONG PROVINCE.
BE
AND
ALL IN ALL, I HAVE TRIED TO MAKE MY BUDGET REFLECT THE ASPIRATIONS OF THE COMMUNITY AND RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF THOSE MOST IN NEED. IT IS A BUDGET WHICH BUILDS ON OUR PAST ECONOMIC SUCCESS AND RESPECTS THE RIGHT OF INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF THAT SUCCESS. AFTER ALL, IT IS YOUR SUCCESS AND YOUR MONEY. BUILDING ON THIS SOLID FOUNDATION, THE BUDGET LOOKS TO THE FUTURE AND TO HOW BEST TO ENSURE HONG KONG TAKES THE FULLEST ADVANTAGE OF ITS OPPORTUNITIES.
GOOD NIGHT.
TRANSCRIPT OF PRESS CONFERENCE BY FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR HAMISH MACLEOD, ON HIS BUDGET
HELLO, WELL HAVING JUST HAD, I THINK AN HOUR AND 25 MINUTES SPEAKING MYSELF HOARSE, I'LL KEEP INTRODUCTORY MARKS VERY SHORT, BUT A FEW THINGS.
FIRST WE'VE MADE A PARTICULAR, EVEN MORE COMMUNICATE, HENCE IN PARTICULAR THE LEAFLET. COPYRIGHT AS MUCH AS YOU LIKE.
EFFORT THIS YEAR PLEASE OFFEND AGAINST
ΤΟ
/SECONDLY. I
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