The Financial Secretary delivered the third Budget of the current-term Government on February 26.
Key initiatives announced in the 2020-21 Budget include:
Support Enterprises
- $10,000 cash payout to Hong Kong permanent residents aged 18 or above
- Introduce a concessionary low-interest loan with 100% guarantee for enterprises, which will be open for application for six months. Maximum load of $2 million with repayment period up to three years. Moratorium on principle repayment for first six months
- Reduce profits tax for 2019-20 assessment year by 100% subject to a $20,000 ceiling
- Waive business registration fees for 2020-21
- Waive registration fees for company annual returns for two years
Financial Services
- Launch a $1 billion pilot scheme for fixed-rate mortgages to help reduce risks of interest rate volatility for homebuyers
- Issue inflation-linked retail bonds and Silver Bonds totalling not less than $13 billion
- Issue green bonds totalling $66 billion in next 5 years
Innovation and Technology
- Earmark $3 billion to take forward Phase 2 of the Science Park Expansion Programme
- Explore the establishment of a third InnoHK research cluster
- Increase the grant ceiling under the Technology Voucher Programme to $600,000 and raise the Government’s funding ratio to 75%
- Inject $345 million for a pilot subsidy scheme to encourage the logistics industry to enhance productivity through the application of technology
Tourism
- Additional funding of over $700 million for the Hong Kong Tourism Board to step up external promotion after the epidemic
Trade
- Additional funding of $150 million for the Hong Kong Trade Development Council to assist Hong Kong enterprises in exploring business opportunities
Professional Services
- Earmark about $450 million to implement the “Vision 2030 for Rule of Law” project to strengthen the Hong Kong community’s understanding of the concept of the rule of law and its implementation
Cultural and Creative Industries
- Additional $900 million to the Art Development Matching Grants Scheme to further promote sponsorship of culture and arts from all sectors
Nurture Talents
- Expand the Researcher Programme and Postdoctoral Hub to cover all technology companies conducting R&D activities in Hong Kong