Hong Kong lawmakers, advisers call for greater flexibility, clarity in budget policies, citing dampened consumer sentiment

Lawmakers and advisers to Hong Kong’s leader have called for greater flexibility in the distribution of consumption vouchers and a clear explanation by the government on landlords’ liabilities under an unprecedented rent relief scheme following the latest budget.

Some observers also expressed disappointment that Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po left certain vulnerable groups out of his blueprint on Wednesday, which predicted a surplus of HK$18.9 billion for the 2021-22 financial year.