FS answers phone calls from public on radio programme
發佈日期: 2026-02-27 20:29
TVB News
The Budget suggested raising the borrowing ceiling of two bond programmes from the current 700 billion to 900 billion dollars.
Addressing concerns about debt repayment, Financial Secretary Paul Chan said the increased borrowing is for mega projects like the Northern Metropolis, which is expected to drive growth and yield returns.
Following the unveiling of the latest Budget, Financial Secretary Paul Chan took calls from the public on a radio programme.
One of the callers expressed concerns over the high-level of borrowing, by asking the finance chief how the government could guarantee these debts would not become a burden for future generations as new debts cover for old debts.
Caller Mr. Chui asked, "How confident are you that the economic return of the investment can repay these 900 billions dollars of bonds? And how confident are you that the future government will not issue bond to cover these bonds?"
Paul Chan responded, "In terms of investment in the Northern Metropolis, at the moment we are trying to expedite it, because if we are able to expedite it in terms of infrastructure provision that will help us quickly settle in the various business enterprises, tech enterprises, manufacturing enterprises that we are going to bring in. When these companies set up their operation, they will contribute to my tax income, employment and GDP. It is not just for the current few years, but it will be a major agent of growth for Hong Kong in the next 20 years."
Another caller pointed to the city's shrinking birth rate, as he asked for the reasons for cutting expenditures on education, social welfare and healthcare.
Caller Nitin said, "Hong Kong's known to have one of the lowest child birth rates in the world. And yet, to make a sustainable growth of a city you need to have that replacement cycle, you need to have children. Despite that, you've decided to cut subsidies to early childhood education. Can I just ask what's the rationale behind that?"
Chan answered, "This year in terms of personal allowances, child allowances, we increased the deduction quite a bit. In terms of this allowance, we increased the amount, so this will be for the long term. To the personal allowances deductions, in fact for a family with two children, the additional disposable income in terms of reduction in tax is about slightly over 10,000 dollars. So I think that would also benefit more people."
