The Government must work for Hong Kong’s overall and long-term interest and it sincerely hopes various sectors will strive to seek common ground for this purpose while accommodating differences.
It made the statement today in response to the demands of some procession participants, calling for people to support the Government in implementing its policies and initiatives.
It said that throughout the past four years of its current term, the Government has been committed to promoting economic development and improving people's livelihood. The effort is gradually bearing fruit in various policy areas, it added.
On the economic front, Hong Kong has seen mild inflation, full employment and an increase in people's income, and has held a sound fiscal position.
Noting the housing problem is society's greatest concern, the Government's effort to increase land and housing supply has paid off with property prices and rents starting to fall. The housing demand-supply imbalance has also been reversed.
As for large-scale infrastructure projects, they can bring about long-term economic and social benefits and are expected to create job opportunities for various sectors, improve public livelihood and strengthen Hong Kong's competitiveness.
The Government has also devoted huge resources to poverty alleviation, elderly care and support for the disadvantaged, leading to a continual drop in the poor population. Policies and initiatives to tackle an ageing society have also been launched.
On retirement protection, views collected during a six-month public engagement exercise on the issue will be analysed and consolidated into a report for submission to the Commission on Poverty by the end of this year.
As for standard working hours, the Standard Working Hours Committee is conducting a comprehensive public consultation before it is to submit a report to the Government, also by the end of the year.
The Government hopes to set policy directions for retirement protection and standard working hours within this term.
On democratic development, the statement said the Government proposed last year that the next-term Chief Executive be selected through "one person, one vote" by eligible voters in Hong Kong.
The proposals are in accordance with the Basic Law and the interpretation and decisions of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress but were vetoed by the Legislative Council.
The statement said the Chief Executive and the Government will continue to adopt a pragmatic and rational approach, strengthen communication with different sectors and capitalise on development opportunities in Hong Kong for the future.
The Government also takes seriously the incident concerning a bookstore in Causeway Bay and has reflected the people’s concern on the issue to the Central Government, which has agreed to discuss the notification mechanism between Hong Kong and the Mainland.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is reviewing the mechanism and will liaise with the Central Government on the matter.
