DAB members yesterday demonstrated to renew their call for rates relief, ahead of Wednesday's budget speech.
In another protest, environmentalists marched to government headquarters to demand the introduction of a green tax.
Nearly 200 members of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, led by legislator Chan Kam-lam, marched from Chater Garden to the Central Government Offices, calling for an exemption from paying property rates for two quarters.
'We believe that rates relief can benefit the greatest number of people,' Mr Chan said. 'The budget surplus will likely reach HK$40 billion so we hope citizens can all share the fruits of economic growth.'
Rates are paid in advance at the end of the first month in each quarter. They are set at 5 per cent of rateable value, which is the estimated annual rental value at a particular date. The financial secretary's 'information pack' on the budget estimates that rates make up 6 per cent of total revenue, at HK$15.4 billion.
In 2003, the government exempted payment of one quarter's rates to mitigate the economic impact of the Sars outbreak.