Finance chief to hear from new lawmakers on budget

Financial Secretary Paul Chan says he’s planning to meet incoming lawmakers to gather their views on his budget, as he called on members of the public to engage in a consultation he’s conducting.

“Every government faces a slew of wishes, but with limited resources, the key is how to prioritise to effectively and evenly allocate resources to cater to most people’s needs while responding to demands from smaller groups,” Chan wrote on his official blog on Sunday.

He reminded members of the public that they can give their views on the spending blueprint through various means, including social media and by mail.

The finance minister also spoke about holding an exchange session with dozens of secondary school pupils earlier to hear their thoughts on Hong Kong’s future.

He said young people want a proper balance between economic development, ecology and conservation, noting that the pupils also showed concerns over the SAR’s aging population and housing issues.

Chan stated that Hong Kong is now in a “golden window for development” as the epidemic remains under control and the economy recovers.

And he called on everyone to discuss and work together so that the SAR can leverage its advantages and get through challenges to move forward.