<p>香港財政司司長為其最新預算辯護，回應公眾對缺乏刺激措施的批評，強調政府必須在財務平衡與長期投資之間找到平衡，以造福城市。財政司司長陳茂波週四表示，他將在下個月向信用評級機構和國際貨幣基金組織簡報他的預算，包括提議從外匯基金轉移 1500 億港元（192 億美元）以支持基礎設施項目。他在廣播論壇上的發言是在週三預算宣佈後，預算中提到從基金轉移投資收入，引發了對城市財務穩定性的擔憂。在論壇上，來電者抱怨預算對公眾支持太少。“我很失望，發放現金或消費券的提議被忽視。你們每年都進行諮詢，但從未傾聽……預算諮詢毫無意義，” 一位姓唐的居民説。陳解釋説，政府採取了不同的方法將更多資金返還給民眾，包括增加税收免税額、提供税收減免以及組織更多活動吸引遊客。“這可以促進商業，創造更多就業機會和更高的居民收入。我們仍然致力於此，因為這也帶來長期利益，” 他説。他補充説，税收減免措施可以幫助一個有兩個孩子的家庭每年節省約 1 萬港元。中產階級也表達了擔憂。另一位姓陳的居民，和妻子合計月收入約 7 萬港元，表示希望政府能為那些不符合許多福利條件的家庭提供更多支持。“我們無法購買補貼住房，因為我們超過了資產限制，所以我們購買了私人公寓。扣除所有開支後，我們每月只能存下約 1 萬到 2 萬港元，” 他説。陳司長回應稱，政府已提議大幅增加基本和兒童税收免税額，並將在其能力範圍內儘可能支持居民。“歸根結底，我們仍處於經濟復甦階段。未來我們需要發行債券，因此必須找到平衡，” 他説。陳補充説，政府的救助措施達到了 220 億港元，並且需要保持財務謹慎。另一位姓曾的居民詢問，政府為何選擇投資於將惠及邊境另一側的北部大都會項目，而不是支持公眾。陳強調，投資該項目是 “值得的”，該項目旨在將靠近城市與內地邊界的 3 萬公頃土地轉變為經濟強國和住房中心。“之前，當我們投資於技術和創新發展的研究與大學時，所有商業化生產都流向了中國大陸。深圳和大灣區獲得了所有經濟利益，” 陳説。“現在，北部大都會是未來的創新和技術中心。我們將吸引企業來香港。税收收益是我們的，就業是我們的，商業化是我們的。” 當被問及債券發行是否已不足以覆蓋基礎設施費用，促使政府尋求從外匯基金轉移資金時，陳表示他正在考慮這兩種選擇以支持大都會的發展。“我們有很多資金口袋……去年，外匯基金的投資回報非常好，超過了 3300 億港元。無論資金是在外匯基金中還是用於北部大都會的基礎設施，都是投資，” 他説。</p>

恆生指數

<p>香港財政司司長陳茂波在公眾批評中為其預算辯護，強調需要長期投資而非短期財政刺激。他計劃向信用評級機構簡報一項擬議的 1500 億港元的資金轉移，用於基礎設施項目。陳強調了旨在促進經濟和創造就業的減税措施，同時回應居民對支持不足的擔憂。他堅稱，像北部都會區這樣的項目投資對未來經濟增長至關重要，儘管有呼聲要求提供更多直接的公眾援助</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>香港財政司司長為其最新預算辯護，回應公眾對缺乏刺激措施的批評，強調政府必須在財務平衡與長期投資之間找到平衡，以造福城市。財政司司長陳茂波週四表示，他將在下個月向信用評級機構和國際貨幣基金組織簡報他的預算，包括提議從外匯基金轉移 1500 億港元（192 億美元）以支持基礎設施項目。他在廣播論壇上的發言是在週三預算宣佈後，預算中提到從基金轉移投資收入，引發了對城市財務穩定性的擔憂。在論壇上，來電者抱怨預算對公眾支持太少。“我很失望，發放現金或消費券的提議被忽視。你們每年都進行諮詢，但從未傾聽……預算諮詢毫無意義，” 一位姓唐的居民説。陳解釋説，政府採取了不同的方法將更多資金返還給民眾，包括增加税收免税額、提供税收減免以及組織更多活動吸引遊客。“這可以促進商業，創造更多就業機會和更高的居民收入。我們仍然致力於此，因為這也帶來長期利益，” 他説。他補充説，税收減免措施可以幫助一個有兩個孩子的家庭每年節省約 1 萬港元。中產階級也表達了擔憂。另一位姓陳的居民，和妻子合計月收入約 7 萬港元，表示希望政府能為那些不符合許多福利條件的家庭提供更多支持。“我們無法購買補貼住房，因為我們超過了資產限制，所以我們購買了私人公寓。扣除所有開支後，我們每月只能存下約 1 萬到 2 萬港元，” 他説。陳司長回應稱，政府已提議大幅增加基本和兒童税收免税額，並將在其能力範圍內儘可能支持居民。“歸根結底，我們仍處於經濟復甦階段。未來我們需要發行債券，因此必須找到平衡，” 他説。陳補充説，政府的救助措施達到了 220 億港元，並且需要保持財務謹慎。另一位姓曾的居民詢問，政府為何選擇投資於將惠及邊境另一側的北部大都會項目，而不是支持公眾。陳強調，投資該項目是 “值得的”，該項目旨在將靠近城市與內地邊界的 3 萬公頃土地轉變為經濟強國和住房中心。“之前，當我們投資於技術和創新發展的研究與大學時，所有商業化生產都流向了中國大陸。深圳和大灣區獲得了所有經濟利益，” 陳説。“現在，北部大都會是未來的創新和技術中心。我們將吸引企業來香港。税收收益是我們的，就業是我們的，商業化是我們的。” 當被問及債券發行是否已不足以覆蓋基礎設施費用，促使政府尋求從外匯基金轉移資金時，陳表示他正在考慮這兩種選擇以支持大都會的發展。“我們有很多資金口袋……去年，外匯基金的投資回報非常好，超過了 3300 億港元。無論資金是在外匯基金中還是用於北部大都會的基礎設施，都是投資，” 他説。</p>
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保羅·陳表示，儘管有人抱怨預算中的優惠措施，但長期收益是值得的