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Saturday, November 17, 2018, 00:39
Govt urged to offer cash handout to HK citizens
By Li Bingcun
Saturday, November 17, 2018, 00:39 By Li Bingcun

Hong Kong’s largest political party in the legislature on Friday suggested the government offer its citizens a cash handout – but in an efficient and practical manner.

The call was among the 155 suggestions made by the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong for the 2019-20 Budget. At a meeting with Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po on Friday, the party submitted their “livelihood-oriented suggestions”. These covered areas including housing, healthcare and transport.

Starry Lee Wai-king, chairwoman of the DAB, told a press briefing that if this fiscal year’s surplus is compatible with last year, the government should consider offering a cash handout in a simple, efficient way and with less administrative expenditure. In 2017-18, the government had a record surplus of HK$138 billion.

The proposal was based on the Caring and Sharing Scheme of the 2018-19 Budget the government announced in March. Expected to be open for applications in Feb 2019 at the earliest, the cash handout scheme aroused criticism due to its slow progress and high expenditure.

Under the scheme, eligible applicants may apply for HK$4,000 or the balance after deducting the relevant tax concession and/or rates concession.

Eligible applicants must be adult local residents with an identity card and ordinarily reside in Hong Kong. They also can't be beneficiaries of the two-month extra allowance of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance, Old Age Living Allowance, Old Age Allowance, or Disability Allowance.

Checking applicants’ eligibility requires manpower, IT, publicity and other operating expenses.  

In March, the financial secretary noted in his blog that the scheme’s administrative expenditure would depend on the actual number of applicants. The administrative costs will amount to 2.9 percent of the HK$11 billion. The handout will benefit 3 million local residents, according to a government submission to the Legislative Council in April.

In Macao’s new Policy Address delivered on Thursday, the government promised to offer a cash bonus to local residents in the 12th consecutive year. Permanent residents will receive 10,000 patacas (HK$9,706) while non-permanent residents could have 6,000 patacas.

bingcun@chinadailyhk.com

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