Hong Kong’s Paul Chan urged to spend cautiously, keep tax breaks in budget

Hong Kong’s finance chief should “cautiously manage” expenditure to ensure economic development rather than eliminate tax incentives, which stimulate investment, a prominent business chamber has said.

The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday also called for the creation of a digital services duty to create a level playing field for local businesses while also raising tax revenues, as part of a raft of proposals for the coming budget.

Chan previously said that while the city aimed to maintain its competitive advantage of a simple and low tax system, the government would focus on cost-cutting rather than seeking new sources of income.

Chamber chairwoman Agnes Chan Sui-kuen said government policy had shifted to a period of “fiscal consolidation” after years of using expansionary spending to boost the city’s post-pandemic economic recovery.

But Chan added it was important that the government “cautiously manage” expenditure controls to avoid impeding economic development.