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2022-23 Budget Consultation

I met with some dozens of secondary school students in a dedicated consultation session a few days ago to learn more about their thoughts on the allocation of public resources and Hong Kong’s future development.

The consultation exercise for the Budget next year has started. I have met with representatives and organisations from different sectors to gauge their views on the allocation of public resources and related policies. I will invite members of the new Legislative Council (LegCo) soon for a meeting to exchange views on the Budget. Public consultation for the Budget was also commenced last week. Please let us have your suggestions through the Budget website, the dedicated Facebook page, or by email, phone, fax or post, so that we could better understand your needs and expectations in preparing the Budget.

I met with some dozens of secondary school students a few days ago to learn more about their thoughts on the allocation of public resources and Hong Kong’s future development. This dedicated consultation session has been held five years in a row. Young people always have their unique views and ideas on Hong Kong’s development. They care about the overall needs of the society as well as their own paths of development. In additional to a robust economic development, they also wish to see a right balance between development and ecological and heritage conservation, and proper handling of crucial social issues such as land and housing and ageing population. Through interactions and discussions, we were able to understand each other’s point of views and explore feasible solutions. Even though our perspectives and priorities may be different, it is always true that the communication has strengthened our mutual understanding and friendship.

The core subject of the Budget is about the proper allocation of public resources. Apart from promoting social and economic development, citizens also wish to see improvement in livelihoods and be benefitted from it. In fact, different governments are facing this similar situation, i.e. competing public demands under finite resources. The key is to sort out the priority of different demands and allocate the resources in an effective and balanced manner. While serving the needs of the majority, we should also take care of the demands of the minority. Given the ever changing situation and needs of the society, it is crucial for us to have your active participation in formulating policies and allocating resources, in order to build a future that meets the expectations of all.

The message we wish to deliver through the Budget promotional video this year is that, we are equipped with strengths and resources, but are also facing difficulties and challenges. As to how we should allocate the resources, we need to have mutual communications with the public and to press ahead with full steam to leverage our strengths and tackle the difficulties and challenges together.

We are now having the great opportunity of development to seize. In social aspect, the local epidemic has been brought under control effectively and we are seeing a gradual economic recovery.

As for law and order, the implementation of Hong Kong National Security Law has restored and strengthened social stability, enabling a good development trend for the society.

In political front, with the enhancement of the electoral system to implement the “patriots administering Hong Kong” principle, two important elections, i.e. the Election Committee Election and the LegCo Election, had been held successfully, supporting Hong Kong’s democracy to progress along a direction that suits our actual situation. With the executive-led system strengthened, we are moving towards good governance, laying a solid foundation for a sustainable social and economic development for Hong Kong.

The current social stability is a hardly gained result, which was achieved through many works done by the SAR Government under the leadership of the Central Government. People’s right is now being protected in accordance with the law and a new paradigm of widespread and balanced political participation has been established. In short, Hong Kong’s current situation has proved that the new electoral system accords with the principle of “One Country, Two Systems” and suits the actual situation of Hong Kong, providing the institutional support for Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability in the long run.

As President Xi Jinping has stated in his meeting with the Chief Executive during her duty visit in Beijing, “We firmly believe with the deeper implementation and continuing improvement of the institution, the advantages of the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ will further stand out.”

The Christmas holiday has brought a festive atmosphere to the city, giving a boost to the businesses of the retail and catering sector. With year 2022 approaching, we are looking forward to a new look, a new phase and a brighter future for Hong Kong.

26 December 2021