Tsang is told to ignore airy-fairy policies
Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen should concentrate on reality in his policy address rather than the 'airy-fairy concepts' of his predecessor, a leading accounting firm says.
Deloitte partner Yvonne Law Shing Mo-han also urged the government to cut taxes, given the economic recovery.
She said Mr Tsang's elevation to the top post coincided with the change in the economy, and people had higher expectations of him.
'Instead of coming up with airy-fairy concepts, the chief executive should concentrate on the reality in Hong Kong. We should look at our strengths, such as building up Hong Kong as a tourism and logistics centre,' Mrs Law said.
She hoped Mr Tsang could do better than former chief executive Tung Chee-hwa, and have some concrete proposals for the short term, rather than long-term visions.
'It is hard to understand those long-term visions. I would rather the policy address give a clearer picture and measurable things,' she said.
The accounting firm says GDP growth could reach 7 per cent this year. It estimates that instead of a budget deficit of $10.5 billion predicted by the government, there will be a surplus of $25 billion to $30 billion because of increased land-sale revenues and tax revenue. The government should reverse increases in salaries tax rates to relieve the burden on middle-class taxpayers, the firm said.
'We think we should share some of the benefits of the recovery with individual members of the public,' Mrs Law said.
