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Hong Kong budget 2025-26

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Hong Kong
Paul Chan
Hong Kong budget 2025-26
Hong Kong finance chief Paul Chan Mo-po delivered his budget speech on February 26 amid a weakened economic environment and calls to ease the city's deficit.
2024-25
Hong Kong Budget 2024-25
2023-24
Hong Kong Budget 2023-24
A public housing estate in Wong Tai Sin on March 21. Hong Kong’s 850,000 public rental units house about a third of its population. Photo: Nora Tam
Hong Kong housing

Opinion | How Hong Kong can reimagine its greatest asset: people’s homes

The city badly needs new revenue sources, and selling public housing units to tenants offers a better solution than painful cuts or new taxes.

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Hong Kong environmental issues

Letters | Carbon tax no longer an option for Hong Kong but a necessity

Hong Kong society

Letters | Hong Kong Sevens delivers a winner in Kai Tak stadium

Hong Kong society

Opinion | Hong Kong’s hard-hit middle class will bear brunt of rise in healthcare fees

The government sees the increases as an unavoidable course correction but, for many Hongkongers, it feels like yet another financial squeeze.

Hong Kong Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau (centre) speaks about the changes to public hospital fees and charges, at the government headquarters in Tamar, on March 25. Photo: May Tse
Hong Kong property

Hong Kong’s March property sales rise to the highest in 4 months

Sales of new and lived-in homes, shops, office units, car parking space and industrial properties jumped by 55 per cent to 6,657 lots last month.

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Opinion | Why Hong Kong must change its tax-funded healthcare model

Whether through co-payment schemes, mandatory insurance or expanded private-sector involvement, we must explore solutions for sustainability.

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Hong Kong economy

Opinion | How Hong Kong can dig itself out of recurring deficits

As the city borrows money to fund development, it risks depleting its savings unless policymakers act decisively to find new sources of revenue.

A visitor looks out over Hong Kong’s central business district on February 18. The city is facing its toughest fiscal test in three decades following a three-year run of substantial deficits. Photo: AFP
Hong Kong economy

Letters | Hong Kong could take leaf out of US’ cost-cutting book

Readers discuss the financial secretary’s efforts to cut costs, and the axing of the HK$2,500 student grant.

Hong Kong

Letters | Hong Kong mustn’t balance its books on the backs of the most vulnerable

Readers discuss the government plan to cut spending by 7 per cent over three years, and the proposed amendment to the bill protecting the harbour.

Hong Kong transport

No plans to split elderly into groups for HK$2 transport fare: Hong Kong minister

Chris Sun says concessionary fare will continue to be offered to residents aged 60 and above even as data shows younger users are costing taxpayers more.

The scheme currently provides a flat fare of HK$2 for those aged 60 or above. Photo: Edmond So
Paul Chan

Most see cost-cutting moves as inadequate in ‘mild’ Hong Kong budget: survey

Survey respondents also divided on adjustments to HK$2 fare concession scheme.

In general, 55 per cent of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s budget Photo: Elson Li

Savings from Hong Kong fare scheme revamp ‘insignificant’: Legco research arm

Legislative Council Secretariat also says decision to freeze civil servant pay expected to save about HK$8.7 billion in coming financial year.

Hong Kong

Opinion | Hong Kong seniors are an economic force, not a budget write-off

Investing in their well-being and engagement could transform this demographic into a driving force for Hong Kong’s economy.

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Hong Kong economy

Opinion | Hong Kong must avoid jumping on AI bandwagon and focus on what it does best

Amid budget constraints, the city should gear research and innovation towards sectors where it has an advantage rather than follow trends.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
Hong Kong transport

Opinion | Not too late to correct Carrie Lam’s mistake with HK$2 fare subsidy

Policy errors made by previous leaders need to be acknowledged, so the city can course-correct and achieve savings immediately.

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A sticker advertising the HK$2 fare scheme for the elderly and disabled is shown on a minibus on February 21. The plan implemented in 2012 was imaginative and socially significant, but the 2022 expansion of the scheme was a mistake. Photo: Elson Li
Hong Kong

Letters | Hong Kong needs a complete review of government structure and efficiency

Readers discuss how the civil service could be streamlined, and the Northern Metropolis plan.

Hong Kong

Opinion | Hong Kong must find the courage to reform its public finances

Reliance on salary freezes and workforce reductions has become a recurring theme. But they fail to address the public sector’s inefficiencies.

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Hong Kong

Exclusive | ‘Aircraft processing plant planned for Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis, airport’

First-of-its-kind facility in Asia expected to generate thousands of jobs and open up a lucrative industry in the city.

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An estimated 400 to 450 aircraft are dismantled and recycled each year. Photo: Sam Tsang
Hong Kong housing

Hong Kong rejects US credit rating agency’s report on property market oversupply

Report by S&P Global Ratings says excess of office space the ‘most acute’ problem facing sector.

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Hong Kong

Letters | Hong Kong needs a smarter approach to water management

Readers discuss the importance of digital water systems, and the middle-class reaction to the financial secretary’s budget speech.

Hong Kong social welfare groups fear budget cuts will hurt service

Welfare chief Chris Sun meets representatives over 7 per cent funding cut, which has stirred concerns over service quality and manpower retention.

A tenant in a subdivided flat in Sham Shui Po. Lawmaker Tik-Chi-yuen stressed that funding cuts would not be able to create the solid safety net the city needed. Photo: Eugene Lee
Hong Kong economy

Western countries would envy Hong Kong’s financial position, experts say

Economists highlight city’s huge reserves at a panel discussion at Post’s Redefining Hong Kong Series 2025: Budget Edition forum.

(From left) Edward Au, Tom Holland, Gary Ng and Heiwai Tang take part in the panel discussion. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Hong Kong economy

Financial stability above all: Paul Chan on tackling geopolitical tensions

Hong Kong will press on with Northern Metropolis project and push for development of AI, finance chief Paul Chan pledges at Post budget forum.

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Paul Chan

Opinion | Why Hong Kong’s austere budget is hard for the public to swallow

With the bulk of cost-cutting aimed at the elderly, children, families and education, for the government to exempt itself is not a good look.

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Legislative Council of Hong Kong

Opinion | Hong Kong civil service needs to be hauled into the 21st century

The financial secretary is heeding calls to downsize and cut costs, but should go further by embracing AI more quickly.

Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan speaks during a press conference after presenting the budget for 2025-26 on February 26. Photo: EPA-EFE
My Take

My Take | No guaranteed win when it comes to legalised gambling on sport

The government is exploring legalising betting on basketball. But the plan has reignited debate about the impact on society – and rightly so.

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The NBABET website is seen at a Hong Kong Jockey Club Betting Branch in Kwun Tong. The Hong Kong Jockey Club is discussing with authorities for basketball betting to be legalised as soon as September. Photo: Edmond So

Hong Kong’s proposed cross-border car fee won’t harm integration: Paul Chan

Finance minister says suggested charge will only affect 15 per cent of travellers and government is open to discussion on fee amount.

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Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong’s Paul Chan should have been ‘bolder’ in his budget, economists say

‘There are some cost-cutting measures, but they are only piecemeal and definitely not a game-changer,’ Gary Ng says.

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