Hong Kong's economy expected to grow by about 5.5% this year if epidemic continues to improve: Financial Secretary

China news agency Hong Kong on June 7Attend the Hong Kong SAR government, financial secretary, Paul chan 7, d.c., the legislative council finance affairs committee meeting presentation when the latest status of Hong Kong economy as a whole pointed out that the world's major economies continues to recover, if the local epidemic continues to improve, the Hong Kong economy actual performance this year is expected to reach the upper limit of the range from 3.5% to 5.5% forecast.

Mr Chan said the business climate was improving as the local epidemic subsided.If the epidemic continues to improve significantly in the future, real economic growth is expected to be at the upper end of the forecast range.

Mr Chan said details of the scheme to issue $5,000 e-coupons to eligible citizens to stimulate consumer spending would be announced later this month and registration would begin in July.He said that the Government had received a lot of comments on the scheme over the past period of time. The preparation of the scheme was now at the final stage. It was conducting systematic tests with the four operators of the stored value payment instruments and partners to ensure the smooth registration and issuance of consumer vouchers.

Mr Chan said the most important thing now is to bring the epidemic under complete control as soon as possible.He reiterated his call for the community to work together and take an active part in the vaccination programme so as to create favourable conditions for the resumption of normal life and travel, business and tourist movements to and from the Mainland and the international community, and for the maximum recovery of consumption and other economic activities.(after)