Convenor of ExCo Non-official Members speaks on Budget
The following is issued on behalf of the Executive Council Secretariat:
Following are the remarks by the Convenor of the Non-official Members of the Executive Council (ExCo), Mrs Regina Ip, at a media session on the 2026-27 Budget in the Legislative Council Complex this afternoon (February 25):
The Convenor of the Non-official Members of the Executive Council (ExCo), Mrs Regina Ip, Photo source: reference image
Reporter: Mrs Ip, are you satisfied with the scale of the relief measures proposed in this Budget, particularly the support for the middle class? Secondly, whether the investment in Hong Kong's long-term growth, for example AI and IT, is sufficient?
Convenor of ExCo Non-official Members: I think the Financial Secretary has very rightly identified technology and finance as the key drivers of Hong Kong's growth, in particular artificial intelligence. As for support for the people, the Government will increase support for the elderly, as well as increase allowances for the middle class, in the form of dependent parent, single parent and child allowance/deduction. I think within the fiscal constraints, the Financial Secretary has put forward a highly comprehensive Budget, which is pro-growth and also takes care of our people in need.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)
Hospital Authority welcomes 2026-27 Budget
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hospital Authority (HA) Chairman, Mr Henry Fan, welcomed the 2026-27 Budget announced by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the Legislative Council today (February 25). The 2026-27 annual subvention for the HA will be $103.1 billion (including $101.8 billion recurrent), having increased by 2.9 per cent compared to the 2025-26 revised provision.
Mr Fan expressed his gratitude to the Government for the continuous increase to the subvention for the HA in order to support the enhancement of public healthcare services. The Public Healthcare Fees and Charges Reform has been fully implemented and has shown initial success. The HA will continue to make optimal use of resources and ensure their proper allocation so that public resources are used effectively to promote the sustainable development of public healthcare services. Enhancing healthcare protection for the "poor, acute, serious, critical" patients on all fronts will ensure that the resources of the public healthcare system can be directed in a targeted manner to help those patients most in need, and fulfil the healthcare system's role as a safety net.
Mr Fan said, "With the staunch support of our nation and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, the HA will continue to strengthen its services to provide patients with timely treatment and care. The HA will continue to strive to provide high-quality medical services to the public. The HA is conducting accreditation for various public hospitals, and is setting up a third stroke centre in accordance with national accreditation standards."
The HA Chief Executive, Dr Libby Lee, thanked the HKSAR Government for supporting the continuous enhancement of public hospital services. "The HA will continue to strengthen its service capacity to meet the needs of the community, which includes enhancing service quality, streamlining processes, reducing patient waiting times and optimising hospital environments. The HA is committed to provide patient-centred clinical services with warmth, so that patients could receive appropriate medical treatment in a well-maintained environment," said Dr Lee.
The HA will continue to execute various measures for the sustainable development of public healthcare and align with the policy on primary healthcare, including the enhancement of Family Medicine Integrated Centres and Family Medicine Clinics in different districts. In the coming financial year, over 200 additional public hospital beds will be opened and continuous improvements will be made to specialist out-patient clinics and radiology services, as well as the provision of additional operating theatre sessions. Meanwhile, ophthalmology services will also be strengthened by increasing the service capacity of cataract, eye surgery and other treatment procedures.
The HA will reinforce holistic care for cancer patients utilising AI to improve the accuracy and efficiency of cancer diagnoses, and increasing cancer-related genetic and genomic testing. The HA will provide fast-track diagnostic services to patients with suspected lung cancer and implement a cancer case manager programme to provide timely treatment tailored to patient needs. Additionally, the HA will continue to enhance palliative and end-of-life care services to enable terminally ill patients to die with dignity.
Mr Fan and Dr Lee once again thanked the HKSAR Government for its support of public healthcare services. The HA will utilise the subvention properly and strive to implement relevant measures for the benefit of patients.
Source: AI-found images
