XN000022-1996-03-07 — Page 2

Transcript of FS's second Budget press conference

The following is a transcript of the second Budget press conference held by the Financial Secretary, Mr Donald Tsang, today (Thursday):

FS (in Cantonese): Thank you. It is actually part of a tradition that we met with you yesterday and we meet with you again today. May I give some introductory remarks.

This morning I got up and I looked at what is in the press and I also heard coverage on the radio and I have been very encouraged, and my colleagues have also been very encouraged. What we aim to do in the Budget is to reflect what the community wants and it seems what we have done has been by and large accepted by the community.

And this morning I was at the Phone-in Programme at RTHK and I heard the views directly from the community. I must say that today, to me, the weather is extremely good when I was on my way to Broadcast Drive and on Waterloo Road - you know that I was in a Government car which is recognised - and then I was driving along and suddenly there was a PLB that tried to overtake my car. When the PLB driver past my car the driver lowered the window and he gave me a thumbs up three times. So even members of the public did listen to the Budget and they felt that actually there is something that they could accept and identify with.

And I also took calls on the radio and broadly speaking we have got their support. And they talk about - I have a vision and I have a heart. And of course I wish to thank them all. And of course, as I have said, the Budget is not my personal efforts; rather it is the Government's Budget and also the work of all my colleagues.

And I also met with the District Board Chairmen and also the Chairmen of the two Municipal Councils and they also gave me their views and in general I think we have got their support. And some have told me that we have managed to score 80 marks and this is very satisfactory.

From the radio and also from the press we have also got the initial response from the legislators and they have said what they felt and then they also told us about the inadequacies. And when I met with the District Board Chairmen whom I understand have consulted some of their contestants. I took comfort that the general feeling is that this is in fact a very balanced Budget. I wish to say that there are three very important principles in our Budget and we have followed these principles. And since we have managed to get broad acceptance, it confirms that our principles are

correct.