Paul Chan hopes testing will help contain virus and restore economy

The Financial Secretary Chen Mo-po says he hopes the mass coronavirus testing in the city will help interrupt the chain of infections so that Hong Kong could begin to restore its economy.

Once again, in a blog, he reminded Hong Kong of the need to maintain fiscal prudence, saying that the depth of the economic recession has exceeded expectations.

Chan said the budget deficit of the current fiscal year has increased to HK$290 billion.

He also reiterated that financial support can only have a limited, short-term effect, and it is only by reviving the economy as soon as possible that workers as well as large, medium and small enterprises and workers can recover.
He said the government needs to try to avoid the rapid shrinkage of fiscal reserves.