Let actions speak

The Government announced earlier today a basket of major policy measures to secure the supply of infant formula in Hong Kong.

I believe that nothing about people's livelihoods is trivial, and that we must address the needs of the people. My Government has all along been guided by these beliefs. As stressed in my Policy Address, I will put Hong Kong people first in areas prone to shortages.

Following this principle, my team and I have rolled out targeted measures in a timely manner since taking office to address Hong Kong people's concerns. These include introducing the new Buyer's Stamp Duty; implementing the "Hong Kong Property for Hong Kong People" measure to restrict the purchase of residential flats by non-Hong Kong residents; enforcing a "zero delivery quota" for expectant Mainland mothers whose husbands are not Hong Kong residents; recommending to put a halt to the scheme of issuing multi-entry visas to non-permanent residents in Shenzhen, which was subsequently supported and accepted by the Central Government; and stepping up efforts to crack down on cross-boundary parallel trading.

The announcement today of measures to ensure the supply of infant formula is the latest example to show that the Government will take decisive actions as necessary to serve the needs of Hong Kong people whenever their daily lives are adversely affected by shortages in certain areas.

I am grateful to my colleagues in the bureaux and departments involved for their efforts and efficiency in formulating and introducing these measures in such a short period. I must also thank the Central Government and the Mainland authorities concerned, especially the Shenzhen Municipal Government, for their support and co-operation in tackling this issue.

February 1, 2013