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Hong Kong protests
Hong KongPolitics

Hong Kong rolls out fresh HK$2 billion package of relief measures to counter double whammy of ongoing protests and US-China trade war

  • Financial Secretary Paul Chan announces measures to help the logistics and tourism sectors, which have been hit hardest by protests
  • Some 130,000 drivers of commercial vehicles such as taxis will benefit from HK$1.35 billion worth of fuel cost subsidies

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Financial Secretary Paul Chan said the economy would get a 2 per cent boost from all measures announced. Photo: Winson Wong
Denise Tsang,Cannix YauandKanis Leung
Hong Kong has rolled out HK$2 billion (US$254 million) worth of relief measures to ease joblessness and support enterprises as the city reels from the double whammy of the ongoing political crisis and the US-China trade war.
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Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po on Tuesday announced measures to help the logistics and tourism sectors, which were hit hardest by the ongoing anti-government protests, including subsidising fuel costs of taxis and commercial vehicles.

Chan also called on landlords to offer sweeteners to tenants such as retailers, food and catering operators, and tourism and logistics firms.

The latest wave of relief measures came after a HK$19.1 billion package in August which was followed by another round of help worth HK$1.4 billion last month. Chan said all the measures, including ones announced in the budget, would boost the economy by 2 per cent.

“The relief measures will increase the chance of the government slipping into a deficit, but we will make good use of our resources on hand to help industries ride out the economic downturn,” Chan said. “We hope property owners and landlords will support tenants, for example, retailers, restaurants, tourism and logistics operators.”

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