Public Spending In Line With Norms: Paul Chan

Financial Secretary Paul Chan says the government has had to increase spending in recent years to make up for its failure to invest enough in some areas in the past.

Speaking on RTHK's The Pulse, he rejected claims that the government has breached article 107 of the Basic Law, which says increases in public spending should be in line with the city's GDP growth.

Chan said more spending has been necessary to meet social needs.

"There have been calls from the public asking for improved medical and health services, increased spending in education. So the way I see it is that the recent increase in expenditure in recent years is in fact catching up on some of the under-investment in various social sectors," he said.

"What is important for me as the financial secretary is to make sure our money is spent on the right areas, and the expenditure as a whole is within our affordability," he said.

Chan also defended initiatives that encourage young people from Hong Kong to work on the mainland.

"What we have been spending to help our young people is to allow them to explore possibility and opportunities. Apart from going overseas, neighbouring cities in the Greater Bay Area are obviously one of the options. So assistance for our young people to explore this market ... I think this is understandable," he said.