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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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