This is 1.5 percentage points higher than originally envisaged and in line with the trend GDP growth rate. Mr Tsang said that given the adjustments underway in the economy any further stimulus could undermine the stability of public finances. In addressing the needs of the community, the Financial Secretary proposed to allocate additional resources to assist the disabled, young people at risk and people with low educational qualifications. I cannot fail to admire and respect the resilience of the disabled and the parents who find themselves in such situations. Those of us who do not have to face such problems should count our blessings.
Surveys suggest that many young people are disenchanted with life.
The role of the District Councils is also to be strengthened. One hundred million dollars a year is being earmarked to allow an early start in implementing the recommendations of a review, currently under way, to strengthen the role of the Councils in their local communities. Even with the lifting of the freeze on recruitment, Mr Tsang expected that the size of the civil service would fall to 181,000 by the end of 2002-03. He said consideration would also be given to further corporatising or privatising individual assets to enhance efficiency and service quality, and bring to the market additional high-value investment opportunities. Examining the case for privatising government tunnels would be completed this year, he added.