Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, at a media session on the 2017 Policy Address at the Legislative Council Complex today (January 18):

     The Chief Executive's 2017 Policy Address is a substantial, pragmatic, bold and forward-looking blueprint. It demonstrates our vision and commitment over a wide spectrum of policy issues. These include retirement protection, climate change, land supply, housing, innovation and technology as well as youth development. This Policy Address is therefore worthy of community support.

     The current-term Government is proactive and committed to responding to the needs of the people and catering for the long-term interests of Hong Kong. We are not shying away from contentious problems and issues, and are determined to tackle them head-on. In this year's Policy Agenda booklet, we've set out 182 new initiatives which are the highest on record since the beginning of this term. This underlines the fact that we are not adopting a caretaker government's approach and mentality.

     We will hold five media conferences from tomorrow onwards and with nine Policy Secretaries and myself. In fact, we'll kick off the first media conference tomorrow afternoon. I will explain in detail retirement protection proposals and also MPF offsetting and medical services.

     I would like to stress that the package of retirement protection measures are all-embracing and cover all four pillars of our retirement protection regime in Hong Kong, including social security pillar, the MPF pillar, voluntary savings and in-kind support including medical services. I would stress the fact that we will implement the proposals on enhancing the Old Age Living Allowance and also the Elderly Health Care Vouchers Scheme as soon as Legislative Council approval is sought.

     As regards MPF offsetting, we will in the next three months consult widely the stakeholders concerned, including business and labour sectors, with a view to coming up with a consensus on the way forward, and we'll map that out by June before our term ends.

     Thank you very much indeed.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

Ends/Wednesday, January 18, 2017
Issued at HKT 15:32

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