1. What do the "God of Fortune" and gold ingotsin the cartoon represent?

“The God of Fortune” represents the Financial Secretary.
The gold ingotsrepresent the fiscal reserves.

2. People from different walks of life ask the “God of Fortune” for help in the cartoon.What kind of demands do they have?

People from different walks of life / Demands
High income earners /  Increase social security assistanceReduce salary tax rates
Offer waiver of public housing rentsReduce ratesandgovernment rent
Offer tax rebatesProvide more public medical services
Build more Home Ownership SchemeBuild more public housingunits
flats
Middle income earners /  Increase social security assistanceReduce salary tax rates
Offer waiver of public housing rentsReduce rates and government rent
Offer tax rebates Provide more public medical services
Build more Home Ownership Scheme Build more public housing units
flats
People from different walks of life / Demands
Low income earners /  Increase social security assistanceReduce salary tax rates
Offer waiver of public housing rentsReduce rates and government rent
Offer tax rebates Provide more public medical services
 Build more Home Ownership Scheme Build more public housing units
flats

3. What is the expression of the "God of Fortune" in the cartoon? Why?

"The God of Fortune" looks troubled.
He wants to ensure that people who have financial needs receive help as well
asbalancethe interests and demands of different groups in the society.

4. Do you think the government should utilisethe fiscal reserves according to public opinions? Why?

No, it should not.
-Most citizens hope to receive a certain extent of economic support from the
government. If the government simply follows public opinions in utilising the
fiscal reserves,it is very likely that the government will end up with a fiscal
deficit.
-This will have a negative impact on the stability of the government’s public
finance and Hong Kong’s overall economic development.
Yes, it should.
-The government should consider the views of citizens when formulating the
fiscal policies can suit the needs of the citizens.

Group Discussion

Try to discuss why the "N have-nots" are not able to benefit from the relief measures provided by the government, and elaborate with examples.

What policies does the Hong Kong Government have at present to help them as well as citizens from other walks of life?

Please put down the key points from your group discussion in the space below.

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