Quick fix: Chief Executive Donald Tsang says the proposed Wage Protection Movement can offer immediate protection to workers.

Chief Executive Donald Tsang says the proposed Wage Protection Movement can offer immediate protection to workers, adding the public and the media can help prevent exploitation by monitoring the campaign's effectiveness.

Speaking on a joint phone-in programme this morning, Mr Tsang said since views within the community remain diverse, it is inappropriate to table a legislative proposal on the controversial subject to the Legislative Council at the moment.

"It might take six months or a year for the council to discuss the legislative proposal. If we implement the Wage Protection Movement now, workers in the cleansing and guarding services sectors can benefit from the campaign immediately."

The Chief Executive said the Government will join the Labour Advisory Board and the public to monitor the movement, reiterating that the Government will prepare for the introduction of legislation for a minimum wage if the campaign fails to yield satisfactory results.

Education services

On education issues, Mr Tsang said the proposed 'education voucher' aims to help the grass roots and middle-level families with a net monthly income below $40,000.

Mr Tsang said since the initiative involves public money, it is improper to expand the scheme to cover profit-making kindergartens. However, those profit-making kindergartens can consider to change to non-profit making if they want to benefit from the measure.

Refuting criticism that the Policy Address did not outline the city's constitutional development, the Chief Executive said he had explained his thoughts in the document, adding he will lead the Commission on Strategic Development to come up with a report on universal suffrage early next year.