The Chief Executive of the HKSAR, Mrs Carrie Lam, today delivered her annual Policy Address entitled “Building a Bright Future Together”
Full details are available form the Policy Address Website
https://www.policyaddress.gov.hk/2021/eng/index.html
A PA Supplement providing a full account of the achievements of measures over the past four Policy Addresses has also been produced. Other publicity materials will be available later today on the website.
Major highlights
Improve “One Country Two systems”
- Safeguard national security by enacting local legislation to implement Article 23 of the Basic Law
- Step up public education on the Constitution, Basic Law and National Security Law
Enhance Governance
- Review organisation of Policy Bureaux to meet new challenges. Initial thinking: create a Culture, Sport and Tourism Bureau; splitting Transport and Housing Bureau; expanding Innovation and Technology Bureau into an Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau; re-organise Home Affairs Bureau into a Youth and District Affairs Bureau
- Review promotion and appointment mechanism for senior civil posts to ensure “best person for the job”
- Publish 40 legislative proposals for early public discussion
Housing and Land
- Ensure timely delivery of 10-year public production of 330,000 units by advancing projects from 2027-2032 as far as practicable
- Increase transitional housing from 15,000 to 20,000 units, implement tenancy control on sub-divided units
- Take forward a Northern Metropolis Development Strategy covering 300 square kilometres from east to west along the HK-Shenzhen boundary economic belt and deeper hinterlands to prove more land for housing, I&T development and other industries
- Expedite near-shore reclamations at Ma Liu Shui (near Science Park) and Lung Kwu Tan
- Review ‘Green Belt” zones to identify potential sites for development
New Impetus to the Economy
- Improve listing regime, expand offshore RMB business, grow green and sustainable finance sector
- Develop a “Smart Port”, grow high value-added logistics and maritime businesses, improve connectivity with GBA
- Improve SME access to bank financing through commercial data interchange
- Attract reputable dispute resolution institutions to set up in offices in the HK Legal Hub
- Provide more land and infrastructure to further boost HK’s strengths and achievements in I&T and R&D; support re-industrialisation and university research
- Take forward Airport City development and enhance co-operation with Zhuhai in aviation industry
- Invest HK$100 billion (US$12.8 billion) annually on infrastructure over next few years
Build a Liveable City
- Set up an Office of Climate Change and Carbon Neutrality to co-ordinate action under HK’s Climate Action Plan 2050″
- Prepare to implement municipal waste charging scheme and move responsibility for refuse collection to Environmental Protection Department from FEHD
- Introduce new producer responsibility scheme on plastic beverage containers and regulate disposable plastic tableware
- Hasten urban renewal in Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok
- Open three new promenades in Wan Chai and Causeway Bay from end-2021 to mid-2022 and complete first promenade at at former Kai Tak runway in 2022
- New facilities for HK Sports Institute
Improve People’s Livelihood
- Merge old age allowances to provide more support for elderly
- Establish more District Health Care Centres
- Take forward legislative work on mandatory reporting of child abuse cases
- Introduce relevant bills in LegCo to abolish the “offsetting” mechanism under the MPF system
Nurture Talent and Youth Development
- Double annual quota under Quality Migrant Admission Scheme to 4000
- Add new professions and expand fields under the Talent List
- Enhance national education and values education
Celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the HKSAR
- Engage the public on events and programmes celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the HKSAR in 2022