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The government should not slash benefits for senior citizens who dedicated their youth to building Hong Kong, lawmakers said, urging the authorities to preserve the HK$2 scheme for elderly and disabled individuals.
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The A4 Alliance, composed of four independent lawmakers -- Scott Leung Man-kwong, Kitson Yang Wing-kit, Connie Lam So-wai, and Gary Zhang Xinyu -- presented their recommendations for the upcoming government budget during a press conference on Wednesday.
The alliance highlighted that, despite facing a nearly HK$100 billion deficit, the government should prioritize protecting livelihood expenditures.
“No matter how the government studies cutting expenditures, it should not target citizens who spent their youth contributing to Hong Kong,” Lam said.
She also urged the administration to address the misuse of JoyYou Octopus cards, which are designed for individuals aged 60 and above to access the HK$2 scheme.
Also, the alliance proposed the development of a concert economy and religious tourism as potential growth areas.
Meanwhile, the Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong (BPA) celebrated the Lunar New Year with a parade, sending well-wishes to the community.
The alliance chairman, engineering constituency lawmaker Lo Wai-kwok, said the need for the government to execute infrastructure projects in a structured manner while continuing to allocate resources for the city’s future, despite economic uncertainties.
In response to questions regarding the tariff war between China and the United States, alliance vice-chairman Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung said that the US initiated the conflict and noted that Hong Kong merchants have adapted by relocating manufacturing to other Asian countries.
He criticized the US for its “might is right” approach and called for diplomatic negotiations between the nations.
Lam expressed confidence in the local economy, predicting a gradual increase in the city’s Gross Domestic Product.
(Eunice Lam)
