A proposal by the Liberal Party for the government to introduce sales vouchers in the budget to encourage people to spend more was challenged by other political parties at a forum yesterday.
Heads of the four major parties have proposed measures to create jobs and relieve the tax burden but they differed on the merits of handing out sweeteners such as sales vouchers.
Their proposals, which have been submitted to the administration, would amount to more than HK$90 billion of public money being spent.
Liberal Party chairwoman Miriam Lau Kin-yee, who has proposed giving away HK$1,000 coupons to every citizen, told the forum that the HK$7 billion package would lead to increased spending. Taiwan had estimated a similar plan would more than double spending, she said.
Tam Yiu-chung, chairman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, said his party was also expecting sweeteners, but tax rebates and a rates waiver would be more helpful. The DAB has proposed, among other ideas, a HK$28.6 billion scheme for such measures.
Civic Party leader Audrey Eu Yuet-mee said the voucher scheme was too much of a short-term measure. Her party has focused on creating jobs related to environmental protection, including a HK$10.8 billion harbour water treatment scheme.