MPF injection swapped for $6,000 handout: the original plan was unpopular

The Financial Secretary revised the budget’s wealth-sharing plan: instead of injecting money into every MPF account, every Hong Kong permanent resident aged 18 or above would receive $6,000. The reason was blunt — the MPF injection was unpopular with the public, and the cash handout drew a positive response.

What about new arrivals?

The Financial Secretary said the Community Care Fund would assist new arrivals in financial difficulty. The handout covers all adult permanent residents; those who have just arrived and do not meet the residency requirement are covered separately by the fund.

For background on MPF accounts, visit the MPF education hub.