Advertisement
Letters | Hong Kong must deal with fiscal deficit and end Covid-19 consumption voucher scheme
- Readers discuss calls for another round of consumption vouchers, and a government scheme to help small businesses use technology
Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
The government is consulting the public on the 2023-24 budget. Some have urged it to launch another round of the consumption voucher scheme. This is totally unnecessary as economic activity in Hong Kong is gradually returning to normalcy.
The last two rounds of the consumption voucher scheme and other relief measures have already cast a huge burden on our public finances. The government should find ways to deal with the expected fiscal deficit. I suggest the government explore ways to broaden our tax base. It might reconsider the introduction of property vacancy tax and study the adoption of similar tax mechanisms targeting undeveloped land in developers’ land banks.
It should also significantly increase the fines imposed for certain illegal behaviour such as unauthorised building works and illegal waste disposal.
Advertisement
A responsible government should wisely filter and digest opinions from different political bodies and adopt a sustainable approach to public administration.
Stanley Ip, Sai Wan Ho
Vet businesses receiving public funds more strictly
Last year, we discussed in these columns the preliminary findings of our study of the Technology Voucher Programme: many of the beneficiaries do not have a digital footprint (“Are SMEs benefiting from public funds using them well?”, November 15).
Advertisement
Select Voice
Choose your listening speed
Get through articles 2x faster
1.25x
250 WPM
Slow
Average
Fast
1.25x