With a view to alleviating citizens' livelihood problems, the government has launched the third batch of the iBond (inflation-indexed bond).
Hundreds of thousands of citizens have applied for the bond. They see it as an ideal investment channel and there is no doubt they are right. With an annual interest rate of at least 1 per cent, its return is higher than what you will get from a bank deposit.
One also has to take into account that the government's financial status is sound.
Having these iBonds can certainly help people with Hong Kong's exorbitant living expenses and the fact that inflation keeps on rising.
The iBond investors can see their return as a form of financial assistance, but for many other Hongkongers who cannot afford to purchase them, the suffering continues.
I see the issue of the iBond as a kind of sweetener.
