CE says Five-Year Plan aims to benefit all

Chief Executive John Lee said on Thursday that Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan is intended not merely to improve the lives of certain individuals, but to enhance the well-being of the entire population. He made the remarks during a radio phone-in programme, a day after delivering the blueprint and his annual Policy Address. Callers questioned him on issues including the city’s low birth rate, public housing supply, youth opportunities and employment. On the birth rate, Lee said the government would do its best to support people who want to have children. The new blueprint proposes 11 measures to boost fertility, including extending the HK$20,000 newborn cash incentive for three more years. He added that reversing the decline is not easy and that it is a problem seen around the world. "Who can guarantee that if we give a certain amount, there will be how many new babies? No one can answer. So since this is difficult to calculate scientifically, we need to create a comprehensive, fertility-friendly environment," he said. "We hope everyone will at least know that the government’s policy encourages childbirth, and that the whole social atmosphere will know that having children is something the government very much hopes people will do....