How do Hongkongers feel about city’s newly unveiled budget? Here are their voices
- Covid-19 pandemic has cast a pall over city, with many still seeing no light at the end of the tunnel
- Individuals welcome spending voucher scheme, but some businesses remain mixed on whether it can really make a difference
The Post speaks to residents and business owners, who say that despite the relief package, the road ahead remains uncertain until the city is out of the pandemic woods.
‘I really need the extra cash’
Cheng Wai-lok, 49, who runs a Japanese restaurant in Jordan, said he would definitely apply for the Special 100% Loan Guarantee Scheme after the borrowing limit for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) was raised to HK$9 million (US$1.6 million) in the budget.
Stricken by the recent tightening of dine-in restrictions, including a ban on dining-in past 6pm, he said he was desperate for a loan of at least HK$2 million, on top of the HK$3 million he borrowed in April 2020 to ease his cash flow crisis. He was already discussing with his bank to further extend the repayment period.
“Before the fifth wave of infections, I ordered a lot of goods for the festive season. But my business has dropped by 90 per cent over the past two months. I’ve only made about HK$30,000 in February,” he said. “Now I desperately need cash to pay for those supplies.”
