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Young people have expressed concern over recent economic downturn and more than 40 per cent of the 526 young respondents polled in a survey expected that the first budget of the HKSAR government would introduce measures to improve Hong Kong's economy.
It is also expected that the Financial Secretary would give priorities to address issues on employment and property prices in his Wednesday's budget speech.
The survey, however, revealed that most young people cast doubt on whether the upcoming budget proposal would revitalize Hong Kong's economy. Only around 30 per cent of those interviewed had confidence that the budget proposal would do so.
According to the poll findings, over 57 per cent of the young respondents hoped that the government would present a fiscal balance budget for the coming year. Another 25 per cent opted for a surplus budget.
Seventy per cent of the youngsters agreed that the government should freeze salary increases for the civil servants while 76 per cent were in support of freezing fees for public services.
Regarding tax reduction arrangements, most of the young thought that reductions in salaries tax and property rates would benefit their family's financial situation the most. More than half respondents opined that personal tax allowances should be increased in the next fiscal year.
The telephone poll, conducted by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups from 5 to 11 February, showed that more than 85 per cent of the young's families had no plan to purchase property in the coming year. The main reasons were due to no sufficient money for down payment and there was no need to have such plans.
As revealed in the survey, nearly a quarter of the young respondents disclosed that the recent regional financial crisis had brought some negative effects to their families. Approximately one third of the young indicated that their family members had engaged in stock market investments but only a few of them were seriously affected by the recent stock market crash.
Youth Opinion
Polls No. 51
