Following is the transcript of remarks by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at a media session after attending a radio programme this morning (March 2):
 
Reporter: The Government said it will inject about $10 billion to the public healthcare system. Could you explain are there any concrete measures that actually help improve the services and the public hospital right now? What are the concrete measures? And secondly, the Government said it brings the housing reserve back to the fiscal reserve. What's the point of doing that? And why didn't the Government inject the money instead into the Housing Authority to build more public housing? Why you bring back the money to the fiscal reserve?
 
Financial Secretary: The Housing Authority's financial position is very strong. Their forecast is that even a few years later, they still have a reserve of over $40 billion. So there is no immediate need in the foreseeable future that the Housing Authority needs an injection from the Government. At the moment, the Housing reserve is outside the accounts of the Government. So in order to promote transparency and also to enable the public to have a better understanding of the strength of the financial position of the Government, we think it is appropriate to bring back this off-account item back to the financial accounts of the Government. We bring this figure back not in one year, but in four instalments because we do not want individual year's account to be unduly affected. That's why we use the remaining term of this Government to bring back the reserve.
 
     As to your question about concrete measures to improve services in the public hospitals, you would realise that we utilised a total sum of $16.1 billion. The $10 billion is a stabilisation fund, which can be deployed whenever the Hospital Authority finds it necessary. Among the rest, about $700 million is to improve the allowances for medical doctors, nurses and also the remuneration of supporting staff at the Hospital Authority. Another $5 billion is to help the Hospital Authority to update their medical equipment and to acquire state-of-the-art medical equipment to improve services for our people, in particular in those cancer centres and also specialist centres. Also, we'll utilise a few hundred million dollars to expand the types of drugs subsidised by the government. So all in all, these are short-term and medium-term measures to help improve the medical services.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

    

     The Labour Department (LD) is investigating a fatal work accident that occurred in Kwun Tong this morning (March 2), in which a worker died.

     The LD immediately deployed staff to the scene upon receiving a report of the accident, and is now conducting an investigation to look into its cause.

     Police advise motorists that special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Sha Tin to facilitate the race meeting today (March 2).

     The arrangements will come into effect two hours before the start of the first race and will last until the crowds have dispersed after the race meeting.

     Appropriate traffic signs will be put up and police will be on hand to guide motorists.

     The Police also appeal to people going to Sha Tin Racecourse for the race meeting and to Happy Valley Racecourse for cross betting to make maximum use of public transport.

     Parking spaces at the two racecourses are available only to holders of appropriate permits issued by Hong Kong Jockey Club and any vehicles illegally parked will be towed away.
     

     A boy who went missing in Tin Shui Wai has been located.

     Chan Tsz-hin, aged 13, went missing after he left his residence in Tin Ching Estate on February 28 morning. His family made a report to Police yesterday (March 1).

     The boy returned to his residence yesterday (March 1) evening. He sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.

     The Labour Department will hold the "Leap into a New Page Job Expo" at Hong Kong Productivity Council Building in Kowloon Tong on March 5 and 6 (Tuesday and Wednesday).

     A total of 50 enterprises, mainly from the retail, transport and business services industries, will participate in the expo, offering over 3 200 vacancies. Twenty-five participating enterprises will set up booths and conduct on-the-spot recruitment each day. Some job vacancies are suitable for job seekers with post-secondary education.

     The vacancies offered cover a wide variety of positions, including management trainee, chemist trainee, registered Chinese medicine practitioner, engineer, kindergarten teacher, shop manager, property operations officer, technical officer, administrative assistant, flight plan officer and cargo officer. Around 80 per cent of the vacancies are full-time jobs. Most vacancies offer monthly salaries ranging from $11,000 to $19,000. Around 98 per cent are open to job seekers who have three years or less relevant experience, and are suitable for young people with post-secondary education.

     Job seekers may bring along their resumés and submit applications on the spot for on-site interviews. More information can be found on the department's Interactive Employment Service website (www.jobs.gov.hk).

     In addition, the Hong Kong Police Force, Immigration Department and Customs and Excise Department will set up booths to introduce the job duties of Police Inspector, Police Constable, Auxiliary Police Officer, Immigration Assistant and Customs Officer. Qianhai International Liaison Services Limited and Hong Kong-Shanghai Youth Association will also take part and introduce their entrepreneurship and employment programmes.

     The job expo will be held from 11am to 5.30pm at Inno Space, Level 1, Hong Kong Productivity Council Building, 78 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong (near Kowloon Tong MTR Station Exit C1 or H). Admission is free.