TWO pro-Beijing Chinese-language newspapers were yesterday at odds with the rest of the Chinese press in their heavy criticism of the Budget.
Both Wen Wei Po and Hong Kong Commercial Daily questioned whether the Government was actually in line with the principle of prudent financial policy.
Wen Wei Po's commentary blasted the 1996-97 Budget as a means for 'the British to pretend to be good guys 400 days before their withdrawal'.
It also criticised Mr Tsang for following the extravagant spending plans that had been advocated by Governor Chris Patten in his policy speech.
It asked: 'When welfare spending is getting higher, but income from land sales and revenue from tax is getting lower, how can a surplus budget be planned?' Work on the 1997-98 Budget, the paper said, should be more than just 'consultations with China' as Mr Tsang had previously suggested.
The Budget was 'full of gestures, lacking in substance', it added.
