<p>香港财政司司长为其最新预算辩护，回应公众对缺乏刺激措施的批评，强调政府必须在财务平衡与长期投资之间找到平衡，以造福城市。财政司司长陈茂波周四表示，他将在下个月向信用评级机构和国际货币基金组织简报他的预算，包括提议从外汇基金转移 1500 亿港元（192 亿美元）以支持基础设施项目。他在广播论坛上的发言是在周三预算宣布后，预算中提到从基金转移投资收入，引发了对城市财务稳定性的担忧。在论坛上，来电者抱怨预算对公众支持太少。“我很失望，发放现金或消费券的提议被忽视。你们每年都进行咨询，但从未倾听……预算咨询毫无意义，” 一位姓唐的居民说。陈解释说，政府采取了不同的方法将更多资金返还给民众，包括增加税收免税额、提供税收减免以及组织更多活动吸引游客。“这可以促进商业，创造更多就业机会和更高的居民收入。我们仍然致力于此，因为这也带来长期利益，” 他说。他补充说，税收减免措施可以帮助一个有两个孩子的家庭每年节省约 1 万港元。中产阶级也表达了担忧。另一位姓陈的居民，和妻子合计月收入约 7 万港元，表示希望政府能为那些不符合许多福利条件的家庭提供更多支持。“我们无法购买补贴住房，因为我们超过了资产限制，所以我们购买了私人公寓。扣除所有开支后，我们每月只能存下约 1 万到 2 万港元，” 他说。陈司长回应称，政府已提议大幅增加基本和儿童税收免税额，并将在其能力范围内尽可能支持居民。“归根结底，我们仍处于经济复苏阶段。未来我们需要发行债券，因此必须找到平衡，” 他说。陈补充说，政府的救助措施达到了 220 亿港元，并且需要保持财务谨慎。另一位姓曾的居民询问，政府为何选择投资于将惠及边境另一侧的北部大都会项目，而不是支持公众。陈强调，投资该项目是 “值得的”，该项目旨在将靠近城市与内地边界的 3 万公顷土地转变为经济强国和住房中心。“之前，当我们投资于技术和创新发展的研究与大学时，所有商业化生产都流向了中国大陆。深圳和大湾区获得了所有经济利益，” 陈说。“现在，北部大都会是未来的创新和技术中心。我们将吸引企业来香港。税收收益是我们的，就业是我们的，商业化是我们的。” 当被问及债券发行是否已不足以覆盖基础设施费用，促使政府寻求从外汇基金转移资金时，陈表示他正在考虑这两种选择以支持大都会的发展。“我们有很多资金口袋……去年，外汇基金的投资回报非常好，超过了 3300 亿港元。无论资金是在外汇基金中还是用于北部大都会的基础设施，都是投资，” 他说。</p>

恒生指数

<p>香港财政司司长陈茂波在公众批评中为其预算辩护，强调需要长期投资而非短期财政刺激。他计划向信用评级机构简报一项拟议的 1500 亿港元的资金转移，用于基础设施项目。陈强调了旨在促进经济和创造就业的减税措施，同时回应居民对支持不足的担忧。他坚称，像北部都会区这样的项目投资对未来经济增长至关重要，尽管有呼声要求提供更多直接的公众援助</p>

<p>Hong Kong’s financial chief has defended his latest budget against public criticism over the lack of sweeteners, stressing that the government must balance its finances with long-term investments for the city’s benefit. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said on Thursday he would brief credit-rating agencies and the International Monetary Fund next month on his budget, including the proposed HK$150 billion (US$19.2 billion) transfer from the Exchange Fund to support infrastructure projects. His remarks at a radio forum followed Wednesday’s budget announcement to transfer investment income from the fund, which has raised concerns about the city’s financial stability. During the forum, callers complained that the budget offered too little support for the general public. “I am disappointed that giving out money or consumption vouchers has fallen off the radar. You hold a consultation every year, but you never listen … the budget consultation is meaningless,” a resident surnamed Tang said. Chan explained that the government had used different approaches to put more money back into people’s pockets, including increasing tax allowances, offering tax reductions and organising more events to lure tourists. “It can boost businesses, creating more job opportunities and higher incomes for residents. We remain committed to that, as it also brings long-term benefits,” he said. He added that the tax relief measures could help a family with two children save about HK$10,000 a year. The middle class also raised concerns. Another resident surnamed Chan, who has a child and a combined monthly income of around HK$70,000 with his wife, said he hoped the government would offer more support to families not eligible for many welfare benefits. “We cannot buy subsidised housing as we have passed the asset limit, so we buy a private flat. After deducting all the expenses, we can only save about HK$10,000 to HK$20,000 per month,” he said. Secretary Chan responded that the government had proposed a significant increase in the basic and child tax allowances and would support residents as much as possible within its capacity. “At the end of the day, we’re still in the stage of economic recovery. We’ll need to issue bonds in the future, so we have to strike a balance,” he said. Chan added that the government’s relief measures reached HK$22 billion and that it needed to remain financially cautious. Another resident, surnamed Tsang, asked why the government chose to invest in the Northern Metropolis megaproject that would benefit the other side of the border instead of supporting the general public. Chan stressed that it was “worthwhile” to invest in the project, which aims to transform 30,000 hectares of land near the city’s border with the mainland into an economic powerhouse and housing hub. “Previously, when we invested in research and development and universities for technology and innovation development, all the commercialised production went to mainland China. Shenzhen and the Greater Bay Area pocketed all the economic benefits,” Chan said. “Now, the Northern Metropolis is the future innovation and technology hub. We will attract enterprises to Hong Kong. The tax return is ours, employment is ours, commercialisation is ours.” Asked whether bond issuance was no longer sufficient to cover infrastructure expenses, prompting the government to seek a transfer from the Exchange Fund, Chan said he was considering both options to support the metropolis’ development. “We have many money pockets … Last year, the Exchange Fund investment return was very good, with over HK$330 billion. Whether the money is in the Exchange Fund or used for infrastructure in the Northern Metropolis, both are investments,” he said.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>香港财政司司长为其最新预算辩护，回应公众对缺乏刺激措施的批评，强调政府必须在财务平衡与长期投资之间找到平衡，以造福城市。财政司司长陈茂波周四表示，他将在下个月向信用评级机构和国际货币基金组织简报他的预算，包括提议从外汇基金转移 1500 亿港元（192 亿美元）以支持基础设施项目。他在广播论坛上的发言是在周三预算宣布后，预算中提到从基金转移投资收入，引发了对城市财务稳定性的担忧。在论坛上，来电者抱怨预算对公众支持太少。“我很失望，发放现金或消费券的提议被忽视。你们每年都进行咨询，但从未倾听……预算咨询毫无意义，” 一位姓唐的居民说。陈解释说，政府采取了不同的方法将更多资金返还给民众，包括增加税收免税额、提供税收减免以及组织更多活动吸引游客。“这可以促进商业，创造更多就业机会和更高的居民收入。我们仍然致力于此，因为这也带来长期利益，” 他说。他补充说，税收减免措施可以帮助一个有两个孩子的家庭每年节省约 1 万港元。中产阶级也表达了担忧。另一位姓陈的居民，和妻子合计月收入约 7 万港元，表示希望政府能为那些不符合许多福利条件的家庭提供更多支持。“我们无法购买补贴住房，因为我们超过了资产限制，所以我们购买了私人公寓。扣除所有开支后，我们每月只能存下约 1 万到 2 万港元，” 他说。陈司长回应称，政府已提议大幅增加基本和儿童税收免税额，并将在其能力范围内尽可能支持居民。“归根结底，我们仍处于经济复苏阶段。未来我们需要发行债券，因此必须找到平衡，” 他说。陈补充说，政府的救助措施达到了 220 亿港元，并且需要保持财务谨慎。另一位姓曾的居民询问，政府为何选择投资于将惠及边境另一侧的北部大都会项目，而不是支持公众。陈强调，投资该项目是 “值得的”，该项目旨在将靠近城市与内地边界的 3 万公顷土地转变为经济强国和住房中心。“之前，当我们投资于技术和创新发展的研究与大学时，所有商业化生产都流向了中国大陆。深圳和大湾区获得了所有经济利益，” 陈说。“现在，北部大都会是未来的创新和技术中心。我们将吸引企业来香港。税收收益是我们的，就业是我们的，商业化是我们的。” 当被问及债券发行是否已不足以覆盖基础设施费用，促使政府寻求从外汇基金转移资金时，陈表示他正在考虑这两种选择以支持大都会的发展。“我们有很多资金口袋……去年，外汇基金的投资回报非常好，超过了 3300 亿港元。无论资金是在外汇基金中还是用于北部大都会的基础设施，都是投资，” 他说。</p>
</div>

保罗·陈表示，尽管有人抱怨预算中的优惠措施，但长期收益是值得的