HK pledges US$4.4bil sweeteners in budget

HONG KONG: Hong Kong unveiled HK$34bil (US$4.4bil) of sweeteners in its budget, including help for businesses hit by pro-democracy protests, as it works to rebuild confidence in a city that some fear is losing its competitive edge.

The government has warned that the Asian financial hub must make economic stability a top priority after more than two months of pro-democracy protests late last year paralysed parts of the city and unnerved authorities in Beijing.