Financial Secretary Paul Chan has revealed that purple will be the signature colour for the cover of his upcoming budget blueprint, symbolising Hong Kong’s efforts to reinforce its internal economic momentum amid a fast-changing global environment.

Writing in his weekly blog on Sunday, Chan expressed gratitude to citizens, businesses and organisations from various sectors who have shared valuable insights ahead of the budget announcement on February 25.

"The current-term government has been working hard to boost the economy, drive development and improve people’s livelihoods — goals that closely align with public expectations," Chan wrote.

"However, the ways and means to achieve these objectives, along with the allocation of resources, are often limited by the realities of the environment. That inevitably involves setting priorities and even making difficult decisions."

Chan said his team had taken note of the diverse opinions received and would factor them into the budget proposal to ensure a final outcome that is both balanced and carefully considered.

He also noted that Hong Kong has made a solid start to the year economically, building on the sustained growth seen in the previous year.

Still, he emphasised that public finances must be managed prudently, taking into account the short, medium and long-term needs of society.

The finance chief added it is essential to maintain a healthy level of fiscal reserves to address contingencies, particularly given the uncertain external environment and challenges tied to economic restructuring.


Edited by Tony Sabine