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REACTION The spending estimates came under attack from pro-business and pro-democracy parties.

 Liberal Party vice-chairman Ronald Arculli expressed disappointment with the 'lack of vision'.

 'Where is the vision to tell us where is Hong Kong going to be in 10 years?' he asked.

 He cited the failure to earmark a specified sum for the new Information Technology and Broadcasting Bureau in the Budget as an example.

 The Democratic Party's Sin Chung-kai said he was dismayed that the Government had failed to spend more to boost the economy.

 He said the Government should contribute more towards the cost of the West Rail to lessen its interest burden.

 But Tsang Yok-sing, chairman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong, said the funding arrangements held no surprises.

 'The plans were already laid out in the Chief Executive's policy address,' he said. 'What we have been told today is how the Government is going to allocate funds so that those plans can be implemented.'  What was most important was the revenue side of the Budget - and how the Government was going to respond to people's demands.

 On the macroeconomic front, capping public expenditure at 20 per cent of gross domestic product was also a cause of concern for some.

 'If the real growth rate falls short of government estimates, would public works be cut down or delayed?' asked Dr Law Cheung-kwok of Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood.



Liberal Party deputy decries 'lack of vision'