If the government introduces a sales tax, we will definitely spend less. I worry that the government will also add sales tax on taxi fares, which will affect our business.

Many other countries have a sales tax, but don't forget that people in those places do not need to spend much on housing. We Hong Kong people have to spend so much on rents or mortgages.

I live in public housing and pay $1,300 a month on rent. The government said this week it will reduce the rent by 10 per cent, but that is still too little.

The financial secretary mentioned a new programme for people to choose their own licence plate numbers. The government probably cannot make much profit from it, but I think the programme will instead create many problems.

I have had the experience of having to remember a plate number in one or two seconds after a car cut into my lane in front of me and nearly hit me. If there had been eight digits or characters on the car plate, as there may be in the future, I am not sure if I would be able to remember all of them.

The government should think twice before they implement that programme.

I don't think taxi drivers are interested in buying their own car plate numbers. They will be very expensive, I guess. And having a special number will not help our business. The passengers will not choose a particular taxi just because of a funny name or number on your plate.

I am also disappointed that the budget mentioned no plan to improve the economy, especially the problem of unemployment. Some of my friends are still jobless and they have been sitting at home for a long time.

I worry that my son will be unemployed after graduation. He has borrowed money from the government to pay the tuition fees and the loan will be a big burden on him.

I think the first thing the government has to do is stop contracting out its jobs.

When there is a labour dispute on salaries, the government always washes its hands and says 'it's not my business'. Those contracted workers have no protection at all and their pay is very little.

The financial secretary should do more to improve the economy. Individual travellers bring more business to shops and restaurants but not necessarily to taxi drivers.

Mainland people do not like to travel in small groups and only take taxis when they go dining or shopping. They usually take the MTR or bus. Sometimes they take taxis, but only for very short journeys.

If the government issues bonds next year, I will buy some if they are issued by the central government.

I don't have faith in the Hong Kong government. What did Tung Chee-hwa ever do for us? Nothing.

He has had to eat his own words. See what he has done to the housing policy. One day he said Hong Kong needed 85,000 housing units a year, another day he said the policy was abolished. He has no credibility. How can I trust him?

I agree that the financial secretary has to solve the deficit crisis but he should do it slowly.

He should also take care of the grassroots families.

There are now so many debates on political reform, but I don't care much. How could you care about political discussions if you don't feel financially secure?

Only people with full stomachs can be bothered to talk about politics.