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Hong Kong lawmakers, advisers call for greater flexibility, clarity in budget policies, citing dampened consumer sentiment
- Others such as lawmaker Regina Ip argue that cash handouts would have been better than the HK$10,000 consumption voucher scheme
- Observers voice disappointment at blueprint leaving out vulnerable groups
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Lawmakers and advisers to Hong Kong’s leader have called for greater flexibility in the distribution of consumption vouchers and a clear explanation by the government on landlords’ liabilities under an unprecedented rent relief scheme following the latest budget.
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Some observers also expressed disappointment that Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po left certain vulnerable groups out of his blueprint on Wednesday, which predicted a surplus of HK$18.9 billion for the 2021-22 financial year.
Major initiatives unveiled in the budget, including a new round of HK$10,000 in e-vouchers to 6.6 million eligible residents, were generally welcomed by the members of the Legislative Council revamped by Beijing to ensure only “patriots” held power.
But some lawmakers who were also members of the de facto cabinet of Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, called for flexibility in implementing the scheme, citing residents’ deep concerns about the escalating fifth wave of the coronavirus.
“The government is asking people to stay at home during the epidemic, but we will have to go out to use the vouchers,” said Executive Councillor Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung, referring to the distribution of the money through e-payment platforms such as Octopus.
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