01 perspective
Written by: Comment Editor
2020-02-22 10:00
Last updated: 2020-02-22 10:00This financial year, the government first encountered anti-revision storms, and then the new pneumonia raged. It was not difficult for Hong Kong people. The upcoming Budget on Wednesday (26th) has attracted the attention of the industry. Many political parties such as the FTU have previously submitted multiple budget proposals. The political parties rarely agree, and invariably ask the government to send money. The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, Huang Guojian, described the current community's palpitations and asked the Secretary to send a minimum of 10,000 to each person in the Legislative Council meeting. However, the budget relates to the government's administration in the coming year. After sending 10,000 yuan into the focus, what should the government's budget go to in order to truly test the capabilities of various political parties.
This year has been hard for Hong Kong people. (Profile picture / Photo by Chen Jingqi)
I saw the woods near the fire
With the development of the epidemic, citizens did not dare to go to crowded places when they went out, and the bustling streets of the past were deserted. The market is bleak and bears the brunt of star citizens who are engaged in the catering, tourism, retail and other industries. The Federation of Trade Unions detailed a variety of different allowances in its financial plan proposal. The unemployed can have unemployment allowances. There is a subsidy, and there is a subsidy for the maintenance of the unit. There are also allowances for parents and children, as well as CSSA, occupational allowance, longevity allowance, public housing rent-free, and so on. Society faces adversity and requires the government to increase subsidies to support citizens through difficult times. It is understandable, but political parties cannot stop there and ignore the deeper structural contradictions of society.
Many of the recommendations of the FTU are in line with social needs, but they fail to address structural issues. For example, they asked the Government to provide $ 1,000 to the entire public for the use of LCSD facilities. The original intention of letting the public do more sports is good, but the number of sports halls in Hong Kong is already lower than the "Planning Standards" promulgated by the government. The addition of subsidies is not enough to allow the public to have a fight. This is what we often say, "headaches and foot pains cannot be cured", because the cause of headaches or foot pains can be in other places.
To make property prices and rents truly affordable, rent allowances cannot be relied upon. Supply and demand and comprehensive market regulation must always be taken into account. (Profile picture)
Housing problems minor repairs
As a political party based at the grass-roots level and based on the economic left, many of its proposals involve increasing public expenditure and protecting the public in various aspects such as labor welfare and education. However, it must be known that Hong Kong's expenditure on poverty alleviation, education, social welfare, etc. is actually greatly limited by the income structure, because the government treats land sales income as capital income instead of operating income, and only injects it into the capital works reserve fund for infrastructure construction. development of. These structural causes must be changed in order to truly improve Hong Kong society.
Another example is the housing problems that have plagued Hong Kong people for many years. Many confederations of the FTU can suppress speculation, such as increasing buyer stamp tax (BSD) and levying asset value-added tax. However, to make housing prices and rents truly affordable, rent allowances cannot be relied upon. Supply and demand and comprehensive market regulation must always be taken into account.
The FTU proposes to provide rental allowances to families waiting for public housing for three years or more, and to review the Landlord and Tenant (Consolidation) (Amendment) Ordinance as soon as possible to control renting of mortuaries. However, the entire private rental market has long since weakened with the rise in the property market, and almost all types of residential units must also be rationalized in terms of rent management. Furthermore, in order to limit the increase of landlords, how rent control should be designed is often the key to success. If these problems remain unsolved, the burden on housing may not be reduced.
In terms of housing supply, the FTU recommends the construction of transitional housing in the Kai Tak Development Area. However, the scale of development of a "transitional" nature has always been limited, and the overall housing environment at the grassroots level is still difficult to improve with transitional housing. If the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions tries to solve the ills that have been lingering in Hong Kong for ten years with transitional housing, it cannot really convince Hong Kong people that they have the will to solve the housing problem.
To resolve the predicament of housing at the grassroots level, the FTU should actively promote the government to quickly fulfill the commitments made in last year's policy address, to prepare in the financial plan for the use of the Land Resumption Ordinance to acquire developers' idle farmland, and to address the ills of Hong Kong . The leasing, subsidy and rent management measures proposed by the FTU cannot be limited to the provision of rental subsidies and review of the regulations. Instead, the government should further stabilize market rents, relieve tenant pressure in the short term, and protect tenants' right to live.
When the society is in a depression, Hong Kong people can only look to the owners for favors, and the government can only call on the owners to reduce rents. This is a bad result planted by the "big market and small government". (Profile picture)
Hand stop and stop stop are structural contradictions
Political parties with labor rights as the banner sometimes give people a sense of increasing welfare, but are unable to touch the deep-seated structural contradictions of the economy. Subsidies can solve the urgent need, and it is easy to win votes when you have the money. But what do Hong Kong society actually need? How to get out of the predicament?
For example, when society is in a depression, Hong Kong people can only look to the owners for favors, and the government can only call on the owners to reduce rents. This is a bad result planted by the "big market and small government". When social security is inadequate and workers are unable to bargain in the market, what is needed is not just to send money, but to surrender for the whole people, a five-day work week, and the right to collective bargaining. Even when the economy fluctuates cyclically and the government rescues the market at tens of billions, we must not only promote the expansion of Hong Kong's tax base, prepare for the long-term increase of recurrent expenditures devoted to people's livelihood, but also provide more development. Entrepreneurship and job opportunities with good potential and good treatment directly help the weak.
If sending money can solve the problem, many party proposals are good medicine. Unfortunately, Hong Kong's problems go far beyond this.
[Financial Budget] The People's Democratic Party converts money to support the government but ignores the big tax system
[Financial Budget] Minor Repairs and Minor Profits Tax Democrats Suggest Shortsightedness
[Financial Budget. Looking Forward] How should we view the fiscal deficit?
[Financial Budget. Looking Forward] Where Does the Fiscal Deficit Come From?
01 perspective
FTU Budget 2020 Budget 01 Viewpoint