Hong Kong unveils 'unprecedented' HK$137.5b virus relief

[HONG KONG] Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced a fresh stimulus package worth about HK$137.5 billion (S$25.3 billion) to support the city's deteriorating economy amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The spending package will include an HK$80 billion job security programme to subsidise 50 per cent of wages for affected workers for six months, Mrs Lam said in a press conference Wednesday evening. Mrs Lam and other key officials will reduce their salaries 10 per cent for one year.

"As we are facing an unprecedented challenge, the government has to respond in an unprecedented manner," she said.

The Hong Kong government has been under pressure to add more support for an economy that had already slid into recession following months of political unrest and now faces shutdowns to curb the virus outbreak. In February, the government announced a HK$30 billion anti-epidemic fund and a HK$120 billion relief package in the annual budget centered on a HK$10,000 handout to all permanent residents age 18 and above.

"This will be a step up by the government to help SMEs to survive and to hopefully prevent a mass wave of unemployment and support low-income groups," said Tommy Wu, senior economist at Oxford Economics in Hong Kong. "It looks like this is sizable enough to cover many workers who have been affected by the virus outbreak."

The additional spending announced Wednesday almost doubles Hong Kong's projected budget deficit for the 2020-2021 fiscal year to HK$276.6 billion from an earlier estimate of HK$139.1 billion, Mrs Lam said. This accounts for about 9.5 per cent of gross domestic product, she said.

Government reserves are expected to drop to as low as HK$800 billion as a result of the relief measures, Financial Secretary Paul Chan said at the press conference. That is equivalent to about 14 to 15 months of government spending, he said. The government's finances are still sound and there is no immediate plan to issue debt, he added.

AFP