Groups Make Pre-budget Appeals To Government

Various groups on Wednesday staged demonstrations outside the government headquarters at Tamar, to demand greater spending on labour and welfare issues.

The financial secretary, Paul Chan, will deliver his budget speech at the Legislative Council on February 27.

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 mechanism allows employers to use a portion of the contribution they make to their employees’ Mandatory Provident Fund accounts to cover severance or long-service payments.

The government plan involves cushioning the blow for employers by subsiding companies to the tune of HK$29 billion over 25 years.

At a separate demonstration, the opposition Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood accused the government of inappropriately allocating resources, and urged Chan to make good use of the fiscal surplus.

They also criticised the government over a HK$4,000 handout to those who missed on other budget sweeteners last year, saying arrangements had been chaotic.

At Government House, Labour Party protesters demanded the administration take back the Fanling Golf Course so it can be used for housing.