7 June 2004

Mr. Henry Tang,

Financial Secretary,

Central Government Offices,

Lower Albert Road,

Hong Kong

Dear Henry,

The Helping Business Programme was launched by the Government in 1996 aiming to cut government red tape, streamline procedures and improve services so as to facilitate business.  According to the information submitted by the government at the LegCo main session meeting of 19 May 2004, the government has implemented 159 improvement measures for the business areas of Lands, Buildings, Works and Fire Services.  As I raised with you at the LegCo Chamber the question of specific details of these measures, I would appreciate it if you could provide me with such information at your earliest convenience.

The general unemployment rate in Hong Kong has dropped from 8.7% to 7.1%.  Nevertheless, the unemployment rate of the construction industry has gone up to over 20% while that of professionals is estimated to be higher than 10%.  I have talked with the Chief Executive Mr. C.H. Tung and the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Mr. Fred Ma about the crux of the matter – lack of government infrastructure projects and funding – and I have asked them and yourself more than once about the arrangement of recurrent consequences, in view of the reassurance given in paragraph 38 of the Chief Executive’s Policy Address of adequate recurrent expenditure.

For several years, the whole cross-section of the construction industry has been screaming for urgent government measures to rescue their livelihood but their desperate requests have fallen onto deaf ears!  Instead of paying lip service, it is not only high time but indeed critical time for the government to take concrete measures to immediately spur the construction industry.  I wonder if I can have your enlightenment on the subject. 

With best regards,

            (signed)

Dr. Raymond Ho