LettersHong Kong budget: cash handout of HK$10,000 each for all Hongkongers, rich or poor, is a misuse of taxpayers’ money

2-MIN READ2-MIN

People in a restaurant watch a television broadcast of Financial Secretary Paul Chan delivering his 2020-21 budget speech at the Legislative Council on February 26. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Published: 6:50am, 28 Feb 2020Updated: 6:50am, 28 Feb 2020

From the budget handouts, it looks like our government is trying to buy itself out of public mistrust. It hands out HK$10,000 to each permanent resident and hopes we will indeed spend it this summer so that it goes straight into the economy.

This is wishful thinking. Can we really believe that the money which is collected by Hong Kong permanent residents who live overseas will be spent here? Or even that those of us who already have enough money will channel the HK$10,000 straight into the economy?

Instead of rate waivers across the board, couldn’t we restrict them to people who own only one property and set a maximum property value to screen those who are eligible for waivers? I assume those living on The Peak have money enough.

We are also handing out HK$10,000 to those who brought the economy down in the first place: the “black shirt” rioters.

Then we have tax relief – again. This does not go to the low-income earners, as a huge section of the Hong Kong population does not even make enough money to reach the level required to pay tax.

Dear Hong Kong government, I have worked hard for the tax dollars I paid you. Spend them wisely. If you do not know how to do so, then let me arrange to do so myself.