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Wednesday, Jan 15, 2025
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Chan defends watered-down sweeteners
The government cannot "play generous" because it can only afford sweeteners that are "not as sweet," Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po told a caller who urged him to "learn from Macau" and hand out HK$10,000 every year.
On a radio program a day after his budget speech, people phoned in and complained to Chan that the scaled-down e-voucher - worth HK$5,000 - and relief measures were insufficient.
Caller Cheung questioned Chan's "moderately liberal" approach when Hong Kong still has HK$817 billion in reserves.
"Macau gives out MOP10,000 (HK$ 9,708) every year. We can't lose to them. Don't you think Hong Kong should be ashamed?" he asked.
Chan replied: "The sweeteners are just not as sweet. I hope everyone can understand that we have done everything we can. We can't play generous just for the sake of it."
Caller Ho slammed the tobacco tax rise to HK$72 for a pack of cigarettes, asking: "Does that mean people with power and influence can smoke and drink, while the poor can't afford to?"
Chan said. "We took into account the health of the general public, not just smokers. We had to consider the effects of secondhand smoke."
Caller Chiu asked for higher tax, rates and rent waivers, but Chan said the city's treasury cannot support policies designed to meet individual needs.
At a Legislative Council finance committee meeting which Chan attended, Election Committee lawmaker Doreen Kong Yuk-foon slammed the budget for "lacking support for the middle class," adding that the progressive property rates introduced will lead to "downward mobility."
Chan said he "always thinks of" the middle class and that the government decided to collect "more rates from the more expensive properties and more capable landlords."
Welfare sector lawmaker Tik Chi-yuen slammed Chan for the 1 percent cut to welfare spending.
Tik said the budget also failed to address poverty - a major goal laid out in October's policy address.
"Secretary, do you expect the Commission on Poverty to carry out the government's targeted poverty alleviation strategy well just by pointing fingers and holding the occasional meeting?" he asked.
Chan replied: "As an SAR official, I will not be threatened. I won't be coerced by votes - for or against - to do something that I don't deem appropriate."
Caller Cheung questioned Chan's "moderately liberal" approach when Hong Kong still has HK$817 billion in reserves.
"Macau gives out MOP10,000 (HK$ 9,708) every year. We can't lose to them. Don't you think Hong Kong should be ashamed?" he asked.
Chan replied: "The sweeteners are just not as sweet. I hope everyone can understand that we have done everything we can. We can't play generous just for the sake of it."
Caller Ho slammed the tobacco tax rise to HK$72 for a pack of cigarettes, asking: "Does that mean people with power and influence can smoke and drink, while the poor can't afford to?"
Chan said. "We took into account the health of the general public, not just smokers. We had to consider the effects of secondhand smoke."
Caller Chiu asked for higher tax, rates and rent waivers, but Chan said the city's treasury cannot support policies designed to meet individual needs.
At a Legislative Council finance committee meeting which Chan attended, Election Committee lawmaker Doreen Kong Yuk-foon slammed the budget for "lacking support for the middle class," adding that the progressive property rates introduced will lead to "downward mobility."
Chan said he "always thinks of" the middle class and that the government decided to collect "more rates from the more expensive properties and more capable landlords."
Welfare sector lawmaker Tik Chi-yuen slammed Chan for the 1 percent cut to welfare spending.
Tik said the budget also failed to address poverty - a major goal laid out in October's policy address.
"Secretary, do you expect the Commission on Poverty to carry out the government's targeted poverty alleviation strategy well just by pointing fingers and holding the occasional meeting?" he asked.
Chan replied: "As an SAR official, I will not be threatened. I won't be coerced by votes - for or against - to do something that I don't deem appropriate."
