Finance Chief Rejects Fears About Land Purchase

The Financial Secretary, Paul Chan, has dismissed concerns that the government would be transferring "astronomical" amounts of money to landlords through its plan to purchase private property to establish welfare use as lawmakers grilled the minister about lack of sweeteners.

Neo-democrats lawmaker Gary Fan slammed the HK$20 billion plan to purchase private land and asked why the government would not develop the facilities in dozens of vacant school premises around the city instead.

Fan also questioned if the government is investing too much money in infrastructural projects and sacrificing the needs of the people.

But Chan hit back at Fan and accused of distorting facts and confusing people. He told the lawmaker that if the Labour and Welfare Secretary Law Chi-kwong is planning to buy something, he will come to the lawmaker and discuss the details before proceeding.

Other opposition members like People Power's Ray Chan and Democratic Party chairman Wu Chi-wai, meanwhile, said the budget failed to address the needs of people who could not benefit from the basket of relief measures.

They said Chan should leverage on the information that has already been collected for the Caring and Sharing Scheme which was announced last year, and continue to provide cash handouts to eligible residents.

But Chan said this is not possible as the eligibility criterion will have to re-evaluated.

The financial chief also dismissed DAB lawmaker Leung Chi-cheung's suggestion for a HK$2,000 universal cash handout, saying it is not in line with the current term government's fiscal policy.