Taxes and fees should also rise in stages, argue critics
Political parties, the business sector and civic groups yesterday urged the government to raise taxes and government charges in stages after the consensus reached to stagger pay cuts for civil servants over two years.
Critics also warned it would be necessary to abandon planned cuts in welfare spending if the government was to avoid being seen to favour certain groups.
Executive Councillor James Tien Pei-chun, chairman of the Liberal Party, which has long pushed for a direct 6 per cent cut in civil service pay, said the decision meant it would take longer to solve the budget deficit.
And he warned the government against targeting 'vulnerable groups' in society without first cutting expenses.
'The government has to be fair to everybody, not go easy on the civil servants while chopping others such as the business sector and the elderly with one stroke. If it wants to chop [civil service pay] in stages, everything else should be chopped in stages.'
Mr Tien said Financial Secretary Antony Leung Kam-chung should now review his plans for the Budget next month.
'I think he should now create a Budget for three years rather than one and reconsider what to freeze, what to cut and what to raise to be fair,' he said.
