公共專業聯盟就今日公佈的2009-10年度財政預算案有以下回應：
國際貨幣基金會建議各地政府撥出額外財政資源應對金融海嘯，建議款額約為國內生產總值的百分之二。可是，財政司司長編制的下年度財政開支不加反減，政府開支總額由2008-09年度的3149億元（修訂預算）下降至2977億元，公共開支由佔本地生產總值的19.9%（修訂預算）下降至19.4%（131段）。最新公佈的預算案背離了國基會增加政府支出以刺激經濟的建議，也與各地政府普遍採取的刺激經濟政策截然不同；特區政府冀求振興經濟，與畫餅充饑無異。
特區政府未能善用資源，把為數83億元（124-5及127段）的，也是最大筆的財政資源，用於減差餉及薪俸稅等紓困措施，雖然可以讓有物業、有工作的人士受惠，可是目標模糊，對刺激社會消費的作用十分有限，因為大部份中、高收入的市民可能採取積穀防饑的策略，把該等款項存進儲蓄戶口，而不用於消費。
財政司司長反覆強調創造就業及保就業的重要性，但預算案中撥作創造就業用途的額外資源只有16億元（28段），與司長本人一再重申的政策優次有明顯的差異。
在下年度的預算案中，科技經濟、創意經濟及綠色經濟被認定是香港的新經濟火車頭，可是特區政府新增的資源卻少得可憐，只有7.5億元（69及80段），相對於財政司司長的宏圖大計，簡直是杯水車薪。
預算案對最需要援手的人士提供的額外資源只有1.7億元（114-5及117-120段），只佔政府開支總額的0.6%，明顯的與特區政府倡議建設關懷社會的精神相違背。這些臨時性措施更反映特區政府未能未雨綢繆，建立一套有效識別亟待援手人士的機制，例如:在職貧窮人士、剛失業人士等。
公共專業聯盟主席黎廣德表示：「本年度財政預算案活像一個沒有牛肉的超薄漢堡包。一方面未能滿足市民對『麵包』的基本要求，公共開支不增反減，創造就業軟弱無力，扶持弱勢聊勝於無；另一方面，真正建造新經濟火車頭的「牛肉」，卻只拿出7.5億元，不及減稅減差餉的十分之一。」
請看蘋果日報有關的報導:
http://appledaily.atnext.com/template/apple/art_main.cfm?iss_id=20090226&sec_id=4104&subsec_id=12731&art_id=12370169
* * * *
A Budget that is Feeding on Illusions and Deviates from International Trends
The responses to the 2009-10 Budget by The Professional Commons are as follows:
In view of the current economic crisis, the International Monetary Fund has proposed the Governments of the world to allocate a fiscal stimulus of 2 percent of their respective GDP. Contrary to general expectations, there will be no increase in the fiscal expenditure, it has dropped substantially instead: The government spending dropped from HK$314.9 billion (revised estimates) for the 2008-09 fiscal year to HK$297.7 billion. The proportion of public expenditure to Hong Kong’s GDP dropped from 19.9% (revised estimates) to 19.4% (para. 131). The 2009-10 Budget is generally against the IMF’s proposal for economic stimulus through an increase in Government spending. The HKSAR Government’s approach is vastly different from the stimulus packages of other countries. The measures of the Government are simply feeding on illusions when it formulates its plans on the revitalization of the economy.
It is likely that the Government is unable to make good use of resources in revitalizing the local economy. It has allocated HK$8.3 billion (also the largest amount of allocation in the Budget for any remedial measures) in concessionary measures such as reduction in rates and salaries tax. Although it would be beneficial to those having properties, and those who are working, the concessionary measures are not well-tested. It might not stimulate consumption substantially, as the majority of the high and medium income residents put the money from the concessionary measures directly as part of their savings. Most of them would not use the money in consumption.
Despite the Financial Secretary’s repeatedly emphasizes on the importance of creation and the preservation of jobs, the resources allocated to the creation of job is merely amounted to HK$1.6 billion (para. 28), that is, only 0.6% of the total government expenditure. Such an arrangement contrasts sharply with his emphasis.
In the Budget speech, the technology-based economy, creative economy and green economy are considered to be the “new economic drivers” of Hong Kong. However, the additional resources allocated to these sectors are far from significant, as they merely amounting to HK$750 million (para. 69 and 80). This deviates with the grand vision of the Financial Secretary.
The Budget allocates merely an additional HK$170 million (para. 114-5 and 117-120) to the needy, this clearly deviates with the spirit for the creation of a“caring society” the Government has always been advocated. These temporarily measures also demonstrated that there is no effective mechanism that can identify the needy who are out of the safety net (for example: the working poor and the recently unemployed).
Mr. Albert Lai, Chairman of The Professional Commons said: “This year’s Budget is like a “super thin hamburger without beef”. First of all, it cannot satisfy the basic need (the “bread”) of the general public: Not only there is no increase in public expenditure, instead, it decreases unexpectedly. The Government shows no strong will in job creation, and the assistance to the needy is merely “little better than nothing”. On the other hand, merely HK$750 million is allocated to add momentum for the “new economic drivers”, which is not even one-tenth of the amount that is “spent” on the provision of concessionary measures such as lowering of rates and salaries tax.”
See the relevant report from The Standard:
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=11&art_id=78803&sid=22877903&con_type=1&d_str=20090226&fc=7
國際貨幣基金會建議各地政府撥出額外財政資源應對金融海嘯，建議款額約為國內生產總值的百分之二。可是，財政司司長編制的下年度財政開支不加反減，政府開支總額由2008-09年度的3149億元（修訂預算）下降至2977億元，公共開支由佔本地生產總值的19.9%（修訂預算）下降至19.4%（131段）。最新公佈的預算案背離了國基會增加政府支出以刺激經濟的建議，也與各地政府普遍採取的刺激經濟政策截然不同；特區政府冀求振興經濟，與畫餅充饑無異。
特區政府未能善用資源，把為數83億元（124-5及127段）的，也是最大筆的財政資源，用於減差餉及薪俸稅等紓困措施，雖然可以讓有物業、有工作的人士受惠，可是目標模糊，對刺激社會消費的作用十分有限，因為大部份中、高收入的市民可能採取積穀防饑的策略，把該等款項存進儲蓄戶口，而不用於消費。
財政司司長反覆強調創造就業及保就業的重要性，但預算案中撥作創造就業用途的額外資源只有16億元（28段），與司長本人一再重申的政策優次有明顯的差異。
在下年度的預算案中，科技經濟、創意經濟及綠色經濟被認定是香港的新經濟火車頭，可是特區政府新增的資源卻少得可憐，只有7.5億元（69及80段），相對於財政司司長的宏圖大計，簡直是杯水車薪。
預算案對最需要援手的人士提供的額外資源只有1.7億元（114-5及117-120段），只佔政府開支總額的0.6%，明顯的與特區政府倡議建設關懷社會的精神相違背。這些臨時性措施更反映特區政府未能未雨綢繆，建立一套有效識別亟待援手人士的機制，例如:在職貧窮人士、剛失業人士等。
公共專業聯盟主席黎廣德表示：「本年度財政預算案活像一個沒有牛肉的超薄漢堡包。一方面未能滿足市民對『麵包』的基本要求，公共開支不增反減，創造就業軟弱無力，扶持弱勢聊勝於無；另一方面，真正建造新經濟火車頭的「牛肉」，卻只拿出7.5億元，不及減稅減差餉的十分之一。」
請看蘋果日報有關的報導:
http://appledaily.atnext.com/template/apple/art_main.cfm?iss_id=20090226&sec_id=4104&subsec_id=12731&art_id=12370169
* * * *
A Budget that is Feeding on Illusions and Deviates from International Trends
The responses to the 2009-10 Budget by The Professional Commons are as follows:
In view of the current economic crisis, the International Monetary Fund has proposed the Governments of the world to allocate a fiscal stimulus of 2 percent of their respective GDP. Contrary to general expectations, there will be no increase in the fiscal expenditure, it has dropped substantially instead: The government spending dropped from HK$314.9 billion (revised estimates) for the 2008-09 fiscal year to HK$297.7 billion. The proportion of public expenditure to Hong Kong’s GDP dropped from 19.9% (revised estimates) to 19.4% (para. 131). The 2009-10 Budget is generally against the IMF’s proposal for economic stimulus through an increase in Government spending. The HKSAR Government’s approach is vastly different from the stimulus packages of other countries. The measures of the Government are simply feeding on illusions when it formulates its plans on the revitalization of the economy.
It is likely that the Government is unable to make good use of resources in revitalizing the local economy. It has allocated HK$8.3 billion (also the largest amount of allocation in the Budget for any remedial measures) in concessionary measures such as reduction in rates and salaries tax. Although it would be beneficial to those having properties, and those who are working, the concessionary measures are not well-tested. It might not stimulate consumption substantially, as the majority of the high and medium income residents put the money from the concessionary measures directly as part of their savings. Most of them would not use the money in consumption.
Despite the Financial Secretary’s repeatedly emphasizes on the importance of creation and the preservation of jobs, the resources allocated to the creation of job is merely amounted to HK$1.6 billion (para. 28), that is, only 0.6% of the total government expenditure. Such an arrangement contrasts sharply with his emphasis.
In the Budget speech, the technology-based economy, creative economy and green economy are considered to be the “new economic drivers” of Hong Kong. However, the additional resources allocated to these sectors are far from significant, as they merely amounting to HK$750 million (para. 69 and 80). This deviates with the grand vision of the Financial Secretary.
The Budget allocates merely an additional HK$170 million (para. 114-5 and 117-120) to the needy, this clearly deviates with the spirit for the creation of a“caring society” the Government has always been advocated. These temporarily measures also demonstrated that there is no effective mechanism that can identify the needy who are out of the safety net (for example: the working poor and the recently unemployed).
Mr. Albert Lai, Chairman of The Professional Commons said: “This year’s Budget is like a “super thin hamburger without beef”. First of all, it cannot satisfy the basic need (the “bread”) of the general public: Not only there is no increase in public expenditure, instead, it decreases unexpectedly. The Government shows no strong will in job creation, and the assistance to the needy is merely “little better than nothing”. On the other hand, merely HK$750 million is allocated to add momentum for the “new economic drivers”, which is not even one-tenth of the amount that is “spent” on the provision of concessionary measures such as lowering of rates and salaries tax.”
See the relevant report from The Standard:
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=11&art_id=78803&sid=22877903&con_type=1&d_str=20090226&fc=7
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