The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China of the People's Republic of China The Chief Executive's 2018 Policy Address The Chief Executive's xxxx Policy Address Policy Agenda Policy Agenda Contents Page Chapter 1 Introduction 1 Chapter 2 Reinforcing Our Strengths, Enhancing Governance 5 Preamble 5 Policy Initiatives 7 Prevention of Bribery Ordinance 7 Political Reform 7 Judicial Independence 7 Executive-Legislative Relationship 8 District Administration 8 Public Elections 9 Restructuring the Government 10 Government Information 11 e-Government 11 Civil Servants 12 Promoting the Constitution and the Basic Law 12 National Anthem Legislation 13 Improving the Legal System and Enhancing the Legal Infrastructure 13 Law Reform Proposals 14 Human Rights 15 Legal Aid and Legal Advice Services 16 Security 16 Strengthening Anti-corruption Efforts 18 Emergency Support 19 Chapter 3 Diversified Economy, Better Jobs 20 Preamble 20 Policy Initiatives 24 Finance 24 Monetary Stability 24 Financial Safety 24 Finance Serving the Economy 26 International Financial Centre 26 Offshore Renminbi Business Hub, International Asset Management Centre 27 Fostering Development of the Financial Services Industry 28 Financial Innovation 29 Transportation Services and Logistics 30 Tourism, Hotel, Retail and Catering Industries 33 Professional Services 35 International Legal and Dispute Resolution Services Centre in the Asia-Pacific Region 36 Construction Industry 40 Uplifting Performance of Public Works Projects 40 Promoting Hong Kong Construction 2.0 41 Adopting Innovative Construction Method 42 Innovation and Technology 43 Re-industrialisation 48 Testing and Certification 49 Creative Industries 50 Intellectual Property 51 Broadcasting and Telecommunications 52 Agriculture and Fisheries Industry 53 Improving Regulatory Infrastructure 54 The New Role of Government in Promoting Economic Development 55 New Direction for Taxation 55 Supporting Economic Development 55 Promoting Mainland and External Affairs 55 Human Resources 60 Training of Talent 60 Extending Working Life 60 Enhancing Employment Support for Elderly People and Others 61 Supporting Working Parents in Fulfilling Work and Family Commitments 61 Attracting Overseas Talent 63 Chapter 4 Professional-led Quality Education 64 Preamble 64 Policy Initiatives 66 Comprehensive Review Led by Professionals 66 New Style through Active Listening 69 Kindergarten Education 69 Primary and Secondary Education 70 Home-school Co-operation and Parent Education 77 Post-secondary Education 78 Supporting Students with Different Needs 79 Vocational Education 81 Qualifications Framework 82 Continuing Education 82 Chapter 5 Home Ownership, Liveable City 83 Preamble 83 Policy Initiatives 88 Developing Land Resources 88 Seeking Consensus 88 Updating Development Strategy 88 Urban Renewal 89 Short to Medium-term Measures 90 Medium and Long-term Measures 96 Lantau Tomorrow Vision 99 Accelerating Land Resources for Development of Liveable City 99 Developments to be led by Transport Infrastructure 100 Creating Business Environment to Promote Economic Development 101 Committed to Conserving Lantau 102 Entertainment and Sustainable Leisure Activities 103 Setting Up a Dedicated Co-ordination Office 104 Housing Policy 104 New Initiatives in Housing 104 Long Term Housing Strategy 105 Effective Use of Public Housing Resources 105 Increasing Supply of Subsidised Housing 106 Improving Quality of Living in Public Rental Housing 108 Building Maintenance and Urban Renewal 108 Enhancing Building Safety 110 Transport 111 Strategic Studies on Railways and Major Roads 111 Developing Railways 111 Implementing Recommended Measures under the Public Transport Strategy Study 112 Improving Road Traffic 113 Monitoring MTR Corporation Limited 115 Ancillary Facilities for Public Transport and Fare 116 Marine Safety 118 Improving Pedestrian Environment 119 Enhancing External Transport Links 121 Environmental Protection 122 Improving Air Quality 122 Enhancing Waste Management 125 Green Construction and Green Economy 129 Devoting Resources to Nature and Countryside Conservation 129 Climate Change 130 External Lighting 134 Beautifying Victoria Harbour 134 Urban Forestry 135 Sports Development 136 Testing Centre and Transport Hub for Competition Horses 139 Arts and Culture 139 Supporting Arts Groups 139 West Kowloon Cultural District 140 Opening Up Arts Space and Providing Facilities 141 Promoting Arts and Cultural Programmes and Grooming Art Talent 142 Cultural Exchange 142 Heritage and History 142 Heritage Conservation 142 Intangible Cultural Heritage 143 Civic Affairs and Clean Society 143 Food Safety and Healthy Eating 144 Drinking Water Safety 145 Municipal Services 146 Live Poultry Trade 147 Safe and Quality Living Environment 147 Veterinary Surgeons Board 149 Animal Welfare 149 Chapter 6 Building a Caring, Inclusive Society, Improving People’s Livelihood 151 Preamble 151 Policy Initiatives 155 Poverty Alleviation, Elderly Care and Support for the Disadvantaged 155 Commission on Poverty 155 Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund 155 Poverty Alleviation 155 Helping Low-income Families 156 Enhancing Upward Mobility 156 Supporting the Disadvantaged and Caring for the Young 156 Supporting Families 157 Supporting Families to Meet Child Care Needs 159 Enhancing Services for Persons with Disabilities and Persons with Mental Illness 160 Elderly Care 167 Service Quality of Residential Care Homes 169 Creating an Age-friendly Community 170 Social Security 171 Social Welfare Planning and Administration 171 Facilitation for Non-governmental Organisations and Social Enterprises 172 Lump Sum Grant 172 Family Council 173 Women 173 Commission on Children 174 Strengthening Support for Ethnic Minorities 174 Enhancing Primary Healthcare Services and Disease Prevention/Control 178 Positioning and Long-term Development of Chinese Medicine 181 Strengthening Healthcare Services 183 Ensuring Long-term Sustainability of Healthcare System 187 Safeguarding Public Health and Upholding Health Services Standard 190 Retirement Protection and Labour Issues 193 Retirement Protection 193 Labour 194 Occupational Safety and Health 196 Religion 197 District Economy 198 Chapter 7 Connecting with Young People to Build Our Future Together 199 Preamble 199 Policy Initiatives 202 Abbreviations 207 Chapter 1 Policy Agenda Introduction During the past year, in keeping with the new philosophy of governance stated by the Chief Executive in her first Policy Address and based on the principles of “Innovative, Interactive and Collaborative”, the current-term Government is striving to rebuild mutual trust with different sectors and has implemented a series of people-oriented measures to build a better and more harmonious Hong Kong. In the second Policy Agenda of the current-term Government, we have set out 244 new initiatives and 470 on-going initiatives. Apart from allocating resources for improving people’s livelihood, we will continue to perform the Government’s roles as “facilitator” and “promoter”. On the one hand, we will reinforce and enhance the advantages of traditional industries such as finance, transportation, logistics, tourism and professional services. On the other hand, we will promote innovation and technology so as to inject new impetus into the economy. With the commissioning of the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link on 22 September 2018, Hong Kong has been connected to our country’s highly efficient and accessible transport network and brought closer to other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Greater Bay Area). We will seize this opportunity to identify 1 breakthroughs in the development of our local economy, livelihood and youths. On enhancing governance, we recognise that many major issues require the holistic steer of the senior leadership in the Government in formulating forward-looking and inter-departmental strategies. As such, we have established the Chief Executive’s Council of Advisers on Innovation and Strategic Development and the Steering Committee on Innovation and Technology, both chaired by the Chief Executive, for promoting development of the economy and innovation and technology in Hong Kong. To build an inclusive society and cater for the needs of various community groups, the Youth Development Commission and the Commission on Children, both led by the Chief Secretary for Administration, were set up in the first half of 2018. Meanwhile, the Commission for the Planning of Human Resources and the Steering Committee on Ethnic Minorities Affairs, also chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration, have initiated their work. The Financial Leaders Forum with the Financial Secretary at the helm has also commenced studies on different issues on financial development. Furthermore, the current-term Government has re-organised the Innovation and Technology Bureau and the Efficiency Unit, and reallocated the legal aid policy portfolio to the purview of the Chief Secretary for Administration’s Office. The newly set up Policy Innovation and Co-ordination Office (PICO) is also playing an active role in assisting the Chief Executive in driving policy innovation and co-ordinating various cross-bureau policy research and projects. As for economic development, we will leverage our advantages under “one country, two systems” and, with the staunch support of the Central Government, actively participate in the Belt and Road