Tsang defends budget against criticism for doing 'too little'
Tsang says first budget under Leung Chun-ying government 'balanced different needs' and defended statement that he is also 'middle class'
Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah was grilled on Thursday morning for doing “too little” to alleviate the needs of the lower and middle classes after unveiling his sixth budget a day earlier.
Speaking on a radio programme, Tsang emphasised that his first budget under the Leung Chun-ying government “balanced different needs”.
“New thinking is not the first thing on my mind when I was preparing this budget,” he said. “My first consideration is quality – whether we could make effective use of our limited resources to help the needy, and pave the way for our society’s future. I think my budget has met these objectives.”
However, callers – including many who identified themselves as low-income – criticised Tsang for doing too little.
"Budget sweeteners no real relief to the working poor", Video by Hedy Bok
“Have you understood the needs of the poor?” asked a father of two, who identified himself only by the last name Chan. “Everything has become more expensive since the minimum wage [law], and of course, you have no idea about [prices] … Could you consider raising school textbook assistance rates, and providing subsidies for buying [educational] tools?”
Tsang responded that the administration could consider boosting the subsidy.