The government will deliver the 2009-10 Budget on 25th February 2009. To compose a financial package that balances the needs of all parties, the Financial Secretary has since last month sought multiple channels to get a more in-depth understanding on the public’s aspirations. These include emails, comics, a series of meeting sessions in different districts and the “Budget Consultation Video Forum” launched by Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK). Financial Secretary John Tsang was here in RTHK today (14th February) to attend the activity “The Budget Talk”. More than a hundred youths shared the precious moment to have direct interactions with the Financial Secretary, raising their concerns on the forthcoming year’s financial arrangements of Hong Kong.

Participants of “The Budget Talk” included members from RTHK Radio 2’s “Young Politicians” and the students of four local secondary schools, namely Lok Sin Tong Yu Kan Hing Secondary School, Yan Chai Hospital Wong Wha San Secondary School, Lok Sin Tong Young Ko Hsiao Lin Secondary School, and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (TWGHs) C. Y. Ma Memorial College. A video conferencing through internet session was tailored to urge more participations of the younger generation. By doing so, even students from Tseung Kwan O’s Yan Chai Hospital Wong Wha San Secondary School, Shatin’s Lok Sin Tong Young Ko Hsiao Lin Secondary School and Yuen Long’s TWGHs C. Y. Ma Memorial College were able to talk to the Financial Secretary through internet.

“The Budget Talk” has covered a wide range of discussions on different issues, including the employment crisis of graduates towards mid 2009, the progress of ten major infrastructure projects, the support for small and medium enterprises, the development of creative industry, tax income, welfare and education expenditures, and the possible ways in easing financial difficulties facing the Hong Kong citizens etc. Besides interactive exchange of ideas with the participants, Mr. Tsang also gave pinpoint responses to some of the opinions raised in the “Budget Consultation Video Forum”. At the end of the activity, members from “Young Politicians” gave a surfboard with the words “We Can Make It” to Mr. Tsang as a cheer up present, hoping he could lead the Hong Kong people in braving the wind and the waves so as to break through the threats of the financial tsunami.

“The Budget Talk” is organised by RTHK and hosted by Wilson Ching. Live webcast was available at 3 p.m. today on RTHK On Internet (www.rthk.org.hk), with audio repeats at RTHK Radio 2 (FM 94.8-96.9) “Young Politicians” on 21st February (Saturday) at 10 a.m.

The “Budget Consultation Video Forum” (www.rthk.org.hk/special/budgetforum2009) stays open until 17th February. Public are invited to upload videos they made expressing their thoughts of the Budget. Upon continuous collection of opinions, the Financial Secretary will provide a web video wrap-up.

http://www.rthk.org.hk/special/budgetforum2009