As Hong Kong grapples with an estimated budget deficit of nearly HK$100 billion (US$12.8 billion), Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po has urged government departments to tighten their purse strings ahead of announcing his annual budget on February 26. His call has sparked concerns among some observers about the possible impacts of budget cuts, including higher…
With Hong Kong’s annual budget in the works, we have been reminded of the many serious challenges facing the city. Our deficit is more than double the original forecast and the city’s gross domestic product last year was 2.5 per cent, a lower rate of growth than a forecast just months ago. Whether the worst…
The Hong Kong government could reduce land sale prices, improve the efficiency of 167,000 civil servants and temporarily freeze their pay as possible solutions to ease the HK$100 billion (HK$12.85 billion) deficit, experts have said, while admitting there are no simple solutions. A day after finance chief Paul Chan Mo-po projected the deficit would more…
Hong Kong will deploy 50,000 civil servants to join a test run at Kai Tak Sports Park’s mega stadium early next year, the city’s security chief said, adding artificial intelligence (AI) will play a role in preparations ahead of the facility’s opening. Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung on Saturday said about 20 drills would…
Hong Kong lawmakers have urged the government to hire more disabled workers and impose key performance indicators to ensure the target is met after authorities revealed such employees made up 1.5 per cent of civil servants. The Labour and Welfare Bureau revealed in a Legislative Council panel meeting on Monday that 2,513 serving civil servants…
A debate over what constitutes a fair wage for Hong Kong’s foreign domestic workers has arisen between worker unions and employment agencies after the government announced a salary increase. The minimum wage for foreign domestic workers has increased by HK$120 (US$15) a month to HK$4,990, a 2.5 per cent rise, amid consumer price inflation in…
A debate over what constitutes a fair wage for Hong Kong’s foreign domestic workers has arisen between worker unions and employment agencies after the government announced a salary increase. The minimum wage for foreign domestic workers has increased by HK$120 (US$15) a month to HK$4,990, a 2.5 per cent rise, amid consumer price inflation in…