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Letters

While it is commendable that the Hong Kong government plans to hand out subsidies to businesses affected by the coronavirus outbreak, the aid should come with a condition that they do not lay off workers.
Business owners make profit in good times and losses in bad times. It is a part of the business cycle. Getting subsidies from the government while laying off workers at the same time is not right.
The government should look after the weakest group in the society, that is, low-skilled workers vulnerable to lay-offs and with limited savings. Business owners should have accumulated past savings to weather the current storm. They are in a much better position than those on minimum wage.
If taxpayers’ money must go to profit-seeking businesses, at least the government should require them not to lay off workers as a subsidy condition.
Thomas Chow, Sha Tin
Aren’t non-permanent residents also suffering?
Dear Mr Paul Chan,
I am writing to you to express my dissatisfaction with the cash handouts amid the current health crisis.
I am an Australian national who has been living and working in Hong Kong for the past six years; paying income tax and contributing to the local economy.
There are many residents in the same situation as me, professionals who call Hong Kong home, but, as we are not categorised as permanent residents, we will miss out on the cash handout.
Why should we miss out? We contribute to Hong Kong as much as permanent residents, but we will receive no aid.
Residents, permanent or not, are all living through this likely soon-to-be pandemic. And we have all endured more than eight months of social unrest.
Is it fair that most non-permanent residents are not included in the financial aid plan? Do non-permanent residents not need to purchase face masks, sanitisers and prepare for the aftermath of the Covid-19 outbreak? All residents of Hong Kong are experiencing the same difficulties during these hard times.
And how will the cash handouts apply to those permanent residents living abroad? If the financial help is aimed at stimulating the Hong Kong economy, what use would providing handouts to people who aren’t in Hong Kong be? All of the financial aid should be kept in Hong Kong, to help the people of Hong Kong.
Do you think it’s fair to only help part of the population? Everyone in this city deserves help.
W. Cheung, Sai Ying Pun


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Coronavirus pandemic

If Hong Kong taxpayers must fund businesses hit by coronavirus scare, ensure a no-firing policy to qualify for subsidy

Street cleaners in Hong Kong wait in line to receive free face masks on February 14. Low-skilled workers have little savings are most vulnerable in an economic downturn. Support for business owners must come with protection for these workers. Photo: EPA-EFE

Hong Kong budget: why non-permanent residents deserve the HK$10,000 handout too

Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan delivers the budget speech at the Legislative Council on February 26. Photo: Reuters

How can Hong Kong hope to be a smart city when the government can’t even distribute a HK$10,000 handout effectively?

Financial Secretary Paul Chan arrives at a press conference after delivering the 2020-21 budget at the government headquarters in Tamar, Admiralty, on February 26. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Few tourists are seen at the Big Buddha in Ngong Ping, Lantau. 18FEB20 SCMP / Nora Tam

(left to right): Robot “Sophie”; Hong Kong Chief Executive, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor; and Philip Yin from the American Chamber of Commerce (Amcham), attend the AmCham Smart City Summit 2018, at the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Centre in Wan Chai. 27JUN18 SCMP / K. Y. Cheng

Hong Kong’s social enterprise sector needs HK$40 million relief package to survive coronavirus crisis, government told

The Hong Kong General Chamber of Social Enterprises fears wave of further closures without government intervention. Photo: Karen Zhang

Merrick Ho Yui-chi, founding member of Cedar Workshop, a local training-based social enterprise operated by visually impaired people, talked about the impact of coronavirus outbreak on the company.. 02MAR20 SCMP/ Karen Zhang

Opinion


It is the government’s duty to protect the welfare of low-skilled workers. It must have companies pledge not to lay off workers, in exchange for aid



It is the government’s duty to protect the welfare of low-skilled workers. It must have companies pledge not to lay off workers, in exchange for aid.


Paul Chan

Hong Kong economy

Coronavirus pandemic: All stories

Hong Kong budget 2020-2021

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} It is the government’s duty to protect the welfare of low-skilled workers. It must have companies pledge not to lay off workers, in exchange for aid

It is the government’s duty to protect the welfare of low-skilled workers. It must have companies pledge not to lay off workers, in exchange for aid