THE Legislative Council saw a far more confident Financial Secretary than it did two years ago when Sir Hamish delivered his maiden Budget.
The political parties were so disappointed by his lack of tax breaks for the sandwich class that even rival groups threatened to close ranks to veto his 1992-93 Budget.
To rescue it, Sir Hamish had to resort to withdrawing his proposed rates increase to pacify the conservative bloc in the assembly.
His third financial plan, however, marks the first occasion in the history of Hong Kong in which the Government is able not only to meet, but actual exceed, most of the major demands by the councillors.
The most vocal faction in the assembly, the United Democrats, had asked for the personal allowance to be raised from $56,000 to $72,000. Sir Hamish has done exactly that.
This 28.6 per cent increase even surpassed the $61,000 level proposed by the Liberal Party. The party was the only political group that wanted the 17.5 per cent profits tax be reduced one percentage point. Even that feeble voice was also heard.