Govt Urged To Boost Welfare Spending In Budget

About twenty Democratic Party members staged a protest outside the government headquarters demanding the administration put more money into social welfare in the upcoming budget.

The party's chairman, Wu Chi-wai, says he hopes the government will use its huge surplus to improve public healthcare and elderly services, as well as offer tax rebate and rates waiver.

He says as long as the government invests more in social services, the public won't mind if there's no cash handout.

Separately, about 30 members of the League of Social Democrats and People Power marched to Government House asking for better welfare for the elderly.

The League of Social Democrats' chairman, Avery Ng, called on the government to spend HK$100 billion on a universal pension.

He also said Chief Executive Carrie Lam should apologise to the elderly, for cutting the social welfare payment for those aged between 60 and 64.

Lobbying is expected to increase ahead of February 27, when the Financial Secretary, Paul Chan, will deliver the budget.

On Wednesday, the pro-government Federation of Trade Unions called on Chan to push forward plans to scrap the controversial MPF offsetting mechanism as soon as possible.

The government is also under scrutiny over changes to social welfare eligibility, which raised the age from 60 to 65.