Hong Kong budget: 2022 DSE exam fees waived for students, permanent residents to get HK$5,000 in coupons
- The government will set aside HK$200 million for IT education in primary schools, said Financial Secretary Paul Chan in his budget address
- HK$500 million will be set aside for country parks and improving barbecue and picnic sites, to enhance residents’ quality of life
Financial Secretary Paul Chan unveiled Hong Kong’s 2020-21 budget on Wednesday. Photo: SCMP/ Sam TsangFinancial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po delivered his budget address yesterday amid a shrinking economy and rising unemployment rate brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
But Chan said Hong Kong’s economy is expected to grow between 3.5 and 5.5 per cent this year.
Chan announced a one-off measure for students, waiving the exam fees for those who will be sitting the 2022 HKDSE.
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He will also set aside more than HK$200 million to strengthen IT education in primary schools.
The programme for primary schools is called “Knowing More About IT”, and will offer funding of up to HK$400,000 to each subsidised primary school over the coming three academic years.
The secondary school programme was launched last year and runs until 2023, providing funding of up to HK$1 million for each publicly funded secondary school to upgrade their IT facilities and organise IT-related activities.
A 2020 pilot scheme, under which science and technology students in local universities received subsidies to enrol in short-term IT-related internships, will continue this year. Chan said the scheme had received a positive response.
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While last year permanent residents received a HK$10,000 cash handout, this year they will be given coupons worth HK$5,000.
To enhance quality of life in the city, Chan said the government will set aside HK$500 million to carry out enhancement works in some of the country parks. Recreational elements, such as additional lookout points, treetop adventures and glamping sites will be built.
The plan will also include improving toilet facilities and barbecue and picnic sites, and revitalising some wartime relics by converting them into open museums.