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Following is the transcript of remarks (English portion) by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Professor K C Chan, at the Asian Financial Forum today (January 19):
Reporter: Do you see unemployment rate in Hong Kong rising anywhere near the level we saw during SARS?
Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury: I don't have a crystal ball on this one. We know the unemployment rate is going to go up because it is a reflection of economic difficulties the region, indeed the world, has. I think it is too early for us to really to give that forecast. We will of course keep monitoring the situation.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Monday, January 19, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:46
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