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Hong KongPolitics

Hong Kong’s new financial chief urged to put fiscal surplus to good use in his budget

Parties call for relief measures to help needy and long-term investment in society

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Members of the DAB stage a budget protest at government headquarters. Photo: Facebook
Jeffie Lam

The new financial secretary was urged to make long-term investments and provide one-off relief measures for the city’s needy in his budget as the fiscal surplus looks set to exceed HK$75 billion.

Paul Chan Mo-po – who took up the post last month after John Tsang Chun-wah resigned to run in the Hong Kong leadership election – will unveil the blueprint on February 22. It will be the last under the administration of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying.

“The administration had given out one-off sweeteners in previous budgets but was reluctant to launch any long-term investment in society,” said lawmaker Hui Chi-fung, one of a dozen Democrats who protested at government headquarters in Admiralty on Wednesday.

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Lawmaker Hui Chi-fung criticised the government for being reluctant to invest in society. Photo: Edward Wong
Lawmaker Hui Chi-fung criticised the government for being reluctant to invest in society. Photo: Edward Wong
“It should really take up the responsibility this time, especially when it is expected to record a surplus of more than HK$75 billion.”

Among 25 suggested measures, the Democratic Party called on the government to fully subsidise all full-day kindergarten education, which would involve more than HK$1.17 billion in recurrent expenditure per year.

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It also urged the government to increase the annual elderly health care voucher from HK$2,000 to HK$2,500, which would cost HK$1 billion.

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