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SCMP Reporter

One in two Hongkongers are dissatisfied with government policies aimed at boosting the economy in response to the global financial crisis, a survey revealed yesterday.
Even though government officials remain unconvinced about the benefit of a proposal to distribute shopping vouchers to every citizen, the Liberal Party, which conducted the survey last week, said the shopping plan, to stimulate domestic consumption, was backed by 60 per cent of 864 survey respondents.
The party would meet the finance chief today to discuss next year's budget and would pass on its findings.
The survey found that 35.3 per cent of respondents were dissatisfied with the administration's economic boosters and 16 per cent said they were very dissatisfied. Only 30 per cent of interviewees said they were satisfied with the government's efforts.
Party chairwoman Miriam Lau Kin-yee  said, compared with other countries' reactions to the global financial crisis, the Hong Kong government had not responded fast enough.
She criticised the effectiveness of the Task Force on Economic Challenges,  which is chaired by Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen,  in proposing options by which both the government and the community could address challenges arising from the world crisis.
'The taskforce holds meetings only once  a month. Also, members of the taskforce [as business leaders] take the lead in laying off employees. I do not see how that can bring more opportunities to Hong Kong,' she said. Ms Lau also noted that the catering and retail sectors could not benefit from policies introduced so far.
Regarding shopping vouchers, the party said its proposal of handing out  the coupons to each citizen was generally welcomed by the community, adding that only 26.1 per cent of survey respondents had expressed opposition to the plan.
Among those who agree with the  proposal, a shopping voucher of HK$1,000 or above was supported by nearly a quarter of   interviewees.
Meanwhile, G2000 group chairman Michael Tien Puk-sun  proposed that consumers spend HK$300 to obtain shopping vouchers worth HK$1,000 from the government, and shop owners redeem vouchers from the administration at a discount of 10 per cent. Mr Tien said the plan could enlarge economic benefits brought by shopping vouchers.
But Ms Lau said the  plan was too complicated, adding that it might involve a high administrative cost.



50pc dissatisfied with government response to financial crisis: survey