Hong Kong legislature passes HK$700 billion budget with tax breaks, raft of subsidies for coronavirus relief

Hong Kong’s legislature has passed the administration’s estimated HK$700 billion (US$89 billion) budget that covers digital vouchers, tax breaks and a raft of subsidies to provide relief to those affected by the city’s fifth wave of coronavirus infections, with the bill backed by the pro-establishment bloc.

The bill on Wednesday was approved with 87 supporting votes and no objections. Social welfare sector representative Tik Chi-yuen, the sole non-establishment member in the 90-strong Legislative Council, voted to abstain, while Alice Mak Mei-kuen from the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions did not cast a vote, citing illness.

Tik said he did not support the budget because it indicated that the government would cut the social welfare sector’s lump sum grants by 1 per cent, equivalent to HK$200 million, an amount higher than previous years.

“The budget mentioned relief measures such as digital consumption vouchers … while cutting HK$200 million in social welfare grants. It might mean nothing for the government, but that would have a serious impact on the sector,” he said.

As the three-day debate over the bill was coming to an end, the meeting was briefly suspended for several minutes after a woman shouted in the public gallery. She was later expelled from the venue.

In 2020, Legco spent 47 hours debating the annual budget, as opposition lawmakers used filibusters to express their grievances against the government. Last year, the debate lasted for eight hours and took place after most members of the pro-democracy camp had resigned.