Over half of the 151 reconstruction projects the Hong Kong Government is funding in Sichuan have already begun, Chief Executive Donald Tsang says.

Concluding his visit to Sichuan today, Mr Tsang told reporters three of the reconstruction projects have been completed, more than half have started and the rest are expected to get underway before the end of the year.

He said there is a tacit agreement between Hong Kong and Sichuan to step up the projects' supervision to ensure quality and safety, and complete them on schedule. The use of funds will also be closely monitored.

The Hong Kong Government has also asked Sichuan authorities to follow up on the staffing and training arrangements for the facilities so that they can start operating as soon as they are ready. 

When asked about Octopus having sold its customers' personal information to other companies, Mr Tsang said he is highly concerned. Before leaving for Sichuan, he had instructed Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data Roderick Woo to look into the issue.

Mr Tsang said he is pleased to learn that Mr Woo has already begun investigating and he stressed that similar incidents must never happen again.