2.8 million Hongkongers to get cash handout of up to HK$4,000 each, in ‘targeted’ scheme to share massive budget surplus

The handouts will cost the government HK$11 billion, as it bows to intense public and political pressure to share the city’s HK$138 billion surplus with more residents

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The city’s welfare minister Dr Law Chi-kwong (left), and finance chief Paul Chan (right) announce the cash handout for 2.8 million Hongkongers on Friday. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 3:45pm, 23 Mar 2018Updated: 10:09am, 21 Apr 2018

Over one-third of Hongkongers, or 2.8 million people who did not benefit from the budget announced last month, will get a cash handout of up to HK$4,000 (US$510) each from the government, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said on Friday.

Chan’s announcement confirmed reports – including one by the Post – that the government would share the city’s HK$138 billion surplus more broadly.

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While it faced intense political and public pressure to do more for the needy, the government’s decision to fork out an extra HK$11 billion in handouts was not a U-turn, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor insisted.

“First of all, I wouldn’t say that we are bowing to pressure, and secondly, we have not said we would not do something which we describe as a ‘share and care’ programme,” she said.

Chan said he had heard the community “loud and clear”.

“I think as government officials we need to have the capacity to step back and reflect the various views expressed and see how we may be able to better serve our people,” he explained. “So this scheme ... is an effort to try to respond to the needs of the community in a proactive manner.”