DAB Backs Budget, But Feels Not Enough Was Shared

The largest political party in Hong Kong, the pro-Beijing DAB, has welcomed the government's latest budget but with a tinge of disappointment, saying more of the accumulated government reserves should have been shared with society.

DAB chairwoman Starry Lee said the government is only sharing around 40 percent of this year's surplus with the public, a level similar to before, despite this year's HK$138 billion surplus being a record high. "To the elderly, we expected, the government should be able to do more," she said.

Lee said the financial secretary has put great effort into investing in the future – especially when it comes to medical and education aspects.

New People's Party chairwoman Regina Ip said she was giving the budget a score of 80 out of 100, and welcomed the sweeteners for the middle class. But she said she failed to note any "new concept" in financing that Chief Executive Carrie had promised.

Earlier, Lam praised Chan for fully embracing "the new style of governance" and "the new fiscal philosophy" in his budget.

In a statement, she said the secretary had provided the financial resources needed to make all the initiatives she proposed in her policy address possible.

She particularly thanked Chan for reserving an extra HK$2 billion per year for education, saying that the budget echoed her belief that spending on education is the most significant investment for the city's future.

Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung meanwhile described the budget as "forward-looking and visionary". He said it will bring hope and happiness to Hong Kong people.