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Finance Secretary John Tsang unveils his keenly-awaited budget for 2015, with a raft of sweeteners expected to put cash into Hongkongers' pockets in an effort to boost consumption.
Talks dragged on in filibuster campaign, aimed at disrupting reform package vote
In handling this year's budget, Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah succeeded in lowering and then surpassing all expectations by handing out "sweeteners" amounting to almost 60 per cent of the forecast surplus for the financial year 2014-15.
In handling this year's budget, Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah succeeded in lowering and then surpassing all expectations by handing out "sweeteners" amounting to almost 60 per cent of the forecast surplus for the financial year 2014-15.
Hong Kong parents instil in their children from an early age the virtues of home ownership. A flat, while providing a place to live, is also a sound investment, their logic goes.
Hong Kong parents instil in their children from an early age the virtues of home ownership. A flat, while providing a place to live, is also a sound investment, their logic goes.
The "future fund" should be locked up as an investment for at least 10 years and withdrawn only when the fiscal reserves drop to a level equivalent to six months of gross government expenditure.
The "future fund" should be locked up as an investment for at least 10 years and withdrawn only when the fiscal reserves drop to a level equivalent to six months of gross government expenditure.
Before tying the knot in 2013, Wong Man-lok had a plan to cut spending to save enough to buy a small property within two years. Now his dream is in tatters.
Before tying the knot in 2013, Wong Man-lok had a plan to cut spending to save enough to buy a small property within two years. Now his dream is in tatters.
The government should consider investing in unconventional and less-liquid assets as part of its strategy so its new future fund can enjoy better returns, fund managers have recommended.
The government should consider investing in unconventional and less-liquid assets as part of its strategy so its new future fund can enjoy better returns, fund managers have recommended.
Among the numbers and spending programmes of many Hong Kong budgets over the past decade and a half has been mention of a need to broaden the government's revenue base, perhaps through a goods and services tax.
Among the numbers and spending programmes of many Hong Kong budgets over the past decade and a half has been mention of a need to broaden the government's revenue base, perhaps through a goods and services tax.
Pity Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah, who must be one of the most "jinxed" financial officials in the world. Since he took over the position in 2007, he has been chalking up a fiscal surplus, even when the economy faced the toughest conditions.
Pity Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah, who must be one of the most "jinxed" financial officials in the world. Since he took over the position in 2007, he has been chalking up a fiscal surplus, even when the economy faced the toughest conditions.
As the ink dries on Hong Kong's giveaway budget chock-a-block with sweeteners aimed at defusing political strife, people are weighing up what they are getting - or not getting.
As the ink dries on Hong Kong's giveaway budget chock-a-block with sweeteners aimed at defusing political strife, people are weighing up what they are getting - or not getting.
The national “one-belt-one-road” export policy will offer opportunities for Hong Kong manufacturers in the Pearl River Delta and the city’s financial services sector, industry insiders said.
The national “one-belt-one-road” export policy will offer opportunities for Hong Kong manufacturers in the Pearl River Delta and the city’s financial services sector, industry insiders said.
Risks to Hong Kong's long-term economic prospects and competitiveness are ballooning and prompt measures are needed, experts have warned.
Risks to Hong Kong's long-term economic prospects and competitiveness are ballooning and prompt measures are needed, experts have warned.
The government's more generous than expected budget sweeteners have cheered the middle class, the poor, small businesses and even property developers.
The government's more generous than expected budget sweeteners have cheered the middle class, the poor, small businesses and even property developers.
Middle-income families stand to benefit most from the rise in child tax allowance and the rebate on salaries tax announced in the budget - while low-income families gain nothing at all.
Middle-income families stand to benefit most from the rise in child tax allowance and the rebate on salaries tax announced in the budget - while low-income families gain nothing at all.
Faced with widening income disparities and fast ageing populations, the governments of Hong Kong and Singapore this week adopted two different approaches to solve the problems as they revealed their fiscal plans for the coming year.
Faced with widening income disparities and fast ageing populations, the governments of Hong Kong and Singapore this week adopted two different approaches to solve the problems as they revealed their fiscal plans for the coming year.
The South China Morning Post, in collaboration with Code4HK, has devised a simple to use calculator that allows you to see how the budget affects you.
The South China Morning Post, in collaboration with Code4HK, has devised a simple to use calculator that allows you to see how the budget affects you.
Hong Kong should promote itself more in India and Southeast Asia, a tourism veteran suggested, as the city's financial chief pledged HK$80 million for tourism promotions after Occupy protests.
Hong Kong should promote itself more in India and Southeast Asia, a tourism veteran suggested, as the city's financial chief pledged HK$80 million for tourism promotions after Occupy protests.
Pan-democrat lawmakers today urged Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah to dip into the city’s HK$63.8 billion budget surplus to invest in the future.
Pan-democrat lawmakers today urged Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah to dip into the city’s HK$63.8 billion budget surplus to invest in the future.
Hong Kong's leadership blames months of pro-democracy protests as the economy fell well short of predicted growth in 2014, and warns that "prolonged political bickering" could do more damage to investor confidence. (Cover photo: Reuters)
Hong Kong's leadership blames months of pro-democracy protests as the economy fell well short of predicted growth in 2014, and warns that "prolonged political bickering" could do more damage to investor confidence. (Cover photo: Reuters)
Health and social welfare get some of the biggest increases in spending this year under the budget plans, with education and the environment also benefiting.
Health and social welfare get some of the biggest increases in spending this year under the budget plans, with education and the environment also benefiting.
There’s more to the budget than announcements about how much you can save on taxes next year. Here are four graphs to help you understand how the budget works and what’s in it.
There’s more to the budget than announcements about how much you can save on taxes next year. Here are four graphs to help you understand how the budget works and what’s in it.
Hong Kong is to set up a savings fund for a rainy day, the finance secretary announced - despite the fact the city's massive fiscal reserves are predicted to reach HK$950 billion in five years.
Hong Kong is to set up a savings fund for a rainy day, the finance secretary announced - despite the fact the city's massive fiscal reserves are predicted to reach HK$950 billion in five years.
With two children and a mortgage to pay off, Matchy Choi Shun-yin and his wife Teresa are one of the many middle-class families in the city that should benefit from the range of sweeteners in the budget.
With two children and a mortgage to pay off, Matchy Choi Shun-yin and his wife Teresa are one of the many middle-class families in the city that should benefit from the range of sweeteners in the budget.
Older people who have bought a subsidised flat but have not yet finished paying for it are to be offered loans to buy their homes outright in a bid to boost the housing supply, under a proposal announced by Financial Secretary John Tsang.
Older people who have bought a subsidised flat but have not yet finished paying for it are to be offered loans to buy their homes outright in a bid to boost the housing supply, under a proposal announced by Financial Secretary John Tsang.
After coffee and French movies, John Tsang Chun-wah has now moved on to his next bourgeois preference: food trucks.
After coffee and French movies, John Tsang Chun-wah has now moved on to his next bourgeois preference: food trucks.
A series of one-off measures to help businesses affected by the Occupy Central protests were unveiled in the budget, as well as fresh plans aimed at lifting the city's image.
A series of one-off measures to help businesses affected by the Occupy Central protests were unveiled in the budget, as well as fresh plans aimed at lifting the city's image.
The city's economy faces a "challenging" year ahead amid global economic uncertainty, Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah warned as he unleashed a host of measures intended to electrify economic growth.
The city's economy faces a "challenging" year ahead amid global economic uncertainty, Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah warned as he unleashed a host of measures intended to electrify economic growth.
Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah continued his unbroken streak of being wrong, revealing for the eighth year in a row that he had inaccurately predicted the city's budget.
Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah continued his unbroken streak of being wrong, revealing for the eighth year in a row that he had inaccurately predicted the city's budget.
The future of the 173-year-old Hongkong Post has been called into question in John Tsang Chun-wah's latest budget.
The future of the 173-year-old Hongkong Post has been called into question in John Tsang Chun-wah's latest budget.
Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-Wah announced a revised budget surplus of HK$63.8 billion for the 2014-15 financial year, compared with the original estimate of HK$9.1 billion.
Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-Wah announced a revised budget surplus of HK$63.8 billion for the 2014-15 financial year, compared with the original estimate of HK$9.1 billion.
What should we make of the government-proposed future fund? Well, it depends on whether you think we should invest for the future or save for the future.
I fell asleep watching the Hollywood movie Chef on HBO. But then, that says nothing about its quality, as I am no middle-class film buff like John Tsang Chun-wah.
Did the Occupy protests harm Hong Kong's international image? In official circles, that is taken as an established fact. So John Tsang Chun-wah waxed indignant about the protest movement at the start of his budget speech.