Hong Kong finance chief set to announce close to HK$50 billion in relief measures for city hospitals and taxpayers
Primary health care hubs planned for all 18 districts as Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po’s budget theme stresses caring, sharing and diversifying
The package of relief measures would account for nearly 40 per cent of a HK$130 billion-plus surplus, more than the usual allocation of 30 per cent in previous years, according to a source familiar with the fiscal situation.
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It is also understood that the three major themes of this year’s budget will be caring and sharing, diversifying the economy, and investing for the future.
While the relief measures are likely to include generous tax incentives for the middle class, a cash subsidy of HK$2,000 for students from poor families, a rates waiver, and more allowances for welfare recipients, including subsidies for the elderly, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po will also invest a substantial sum in innovation, covering biomedical technology and artificial intelligence, all aimed at broadening the city’s economic base.
Addressing the city’s ageing problems, which are pushing already overstretched public hospitals to breaking point with the increasing number of chronic disease patients, Chan is also expected to spend another substantial chunk of the surplus to set up a primary health care hub in all 18 districts in the long run.
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Health minister Sophia Chan Siu-chee had a meeting with all district council representatives on Tuesday to examine parts of the city were ready to form the hub, which would offer community health care services to chronic disease patients and senior citizens through various satellite centres.