Lawmakers kick-started discussions on the budget bill on Wednesday by recognising the government's focus on innovation and technology development.

Debating the bill in the legislature, councillors said it was right to focus on artificial intelligence, new industries and developing the Northern Metropolis, as these could all help Hong Kong in the long run.

Finance sector councillor Ronick Chan said the budget deserves recognition, as the government managed to achieve an operating account surplus earlier than expected despite the geo-political turbulence.

"The budget this year spent long passages to focus on innovation and technology, finance, AI and the construction of the Northern Metropolis," he said.

"These initiatives not only actively align with the key priorities of the country's 15th Five-Year Plan, they also lay the groundwork for Hong Kong's long-term competitiveness."

Unionist lawmaker Lam Chun-sing, from the Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions, agreed the budget had invested more resources in the future and he believes officials deserve recognition for their cost-cutting efforts.

He expressed hope the government would provide more incentives to encourage people to have children, such as offering progressive child tax allowances and other subsidies.

DAB chairman Gary Chan, for his part, said he agreed that the proactive and innovative ideas on economic development could help the SAR align with the country's 15th Five-Year Plan.

But he also said officials could improve in terms of not letting spending cuts affect the grassroots, saying many residents had complained to his party about the rise in public healthcare fees.

"One of my colleagues went to a public outpatient clinic for medication. He heard an elderly woman before him telling the nurse, 'Can I take fewer pills, so that it will be cheaper? Why is the bill so expensive? I'm not taking so many pills,' he said in the chamber.

"Our hearts sink when we hear this. It's not because the patient doesn't want to be cured, but she just couldn't afford it. This is a true story."

Election Committee lawmaker Chan Hoi-yan noted that officials have earmarked more than HK$1 billion on fire prevention, an annual increase of nearly 18 percent.

She expressed hope that as the public becomes more concerned about fire safety following the deadly Tai Po blaze, there would be more resources allocated for community and school education, so as to enhance the public's ability to "save others and themselves" during disasters.

The council has earmarked three days for the bill's discussions, with next Wednesday slated for officials to respond to queries.



Edited by Tony Sabine