Topic
It is in Hong Kong’s interest for the Legislative Council to examine the details closely and pass the government budget expeditiously
The value of extra budget money for Hong Kong’s health system should not be at risk of being tangled up in red tape and bureaucracy
The financial secretary has offered Hong Kong neither long-term planning nor shorter-term solutions, and reserves expected to hit HK$1.16 trillion will be put away for another rainy day
- The under-18s are neither receiving cash handouts nor being given priority in the budget. Also, priority has not been given to establishing a competent mandatory platform to represent children’s best interests
Those who have not yet achieved permanent resident status also suffered greatly during the events of the past months. Granting all Hong Kong residents the handout would be an inclusive gesture.
Finance chief will have ‘no tricks up his sleeves’ in wake of series of relief measures, cabinet member warns.
Paul Chan’s fourth budget speech will detail the extent of the city’s first deficit in 15 years.
Financial Secretary Paul Chan says city is now more reliant on tourism, which has been severely hammered by health crisis, on top of ongoing civil unrest.
Finance chief Paul Chan says another year in the red is no cause for concern with the city supported by HK$1.1 trillion in reserves.
DAB suggests increasing resources to set up 24-hour special courts, strengthen police equipment, and clean up Lennon Walls across city at a meeting with Financial Secretary Paul Chan.
The city will be in the red in 2020-21, as well as this year, finance chief Paul Chan said as he hammered home the impact of the protests on the city’s economy.
Government originally estimated a surplus of HK$16.8 billion – but the city has spent more and earned less during months of protests.
Financial Secretary Paul Chan cites a host of reasons for the relief measures but studiously avoids the word ‘protests’. He also warns the city’s economy could enter into a technical recession.
With an ageing population and low fertility rate, Hong Kong is facing a shrinking labour force. But getting more people to join or re-enter the workforce is no easy matter.
Instead of the 130 facilities announced in February’s budget, the Social Welfare Department released a list of about 160 in the city’s 18 districts, including 55 elderly activity centres and 28 childcare centres.
The budget was passed by 44 to 15 after 50 hours of debate. All 56 amendments put forward by the pan-democrats were rejected, including one that sought to cut Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s salary.
The three-month window to apply for the HK$4,000 sum closed on Tuesday. Unions say staff have had to work overtime to process the applications and at least 20 have quit.
Harbourfront Commission recommends studying the waterfront districts of Singapore, Sydney and Copenhagen.
The budget has allocated a substantial sum for secondary schools to upgrade information technology equipment and classes
Tender system for lowest bidder in cleaning contracts and lack of public education clog up efforts to improve embarrassing situation for city, even with government’s HK$600 million bid to flush away issue.
The elitism of members of the establishment in Hong Kong is evident in their failure to understand why the middle-class needs help from the government.
This year’s budget allocates more funds to health care but doesn’t get at the roots of the problem — air pollution, stressful working conditions and high rents.
Improved toilet facilities won’t go far if they are poorly maintained and users are not educated on treating public property well.
