2011 Anti-budget demonstration
Encyclopedia
The 2011 Anti-budget demonstration occurred in Hong Kong
on 6 March 2011 due to dissatisfaction with the HK government's management of finance by Financial Secretary
John Tsang
. After 7 straight years of budget surplus, the government had a record HK$580 billion in reserve. But despite this, government members still refuse to address the income and financial inequality.
. This began a series of complaints and outrage.
After complaints, John Tsang made a U-turn to cancel the MPF fund plan. Instead HK$6000 and other tax rebates were given out to HK permanent
residents. Citizens under the age of 18 cannot receive this fund. In comparison, Macau
have already been offering cash handouts since 2009.
to demonstrate. A march was held from Chater Garden
to the Central Government Offices
. Two police officers were injured. Almost 100 protesters held sit-ins at the government office and Queen's Road
. Protesters shouted slogans saying John Tsang should step down and have no vision. Raymond Wong and Albert Chan
also joined People Power protesters to do villain hitting
against Donald Tsang and John Tsang.
About 113 protesters were arrested. At 9pm the protesters broke through a police cordon and stormed the traffic lanes of Des Voeux Road
and Ice House Street
. Situation became tense. An 8-year-old boy was also pepper spray
ed in the eye. A request by 20 members of the League of Social Democrats
to meet up with Tsang was denied. They left jasmine flowers under a tree and were carried off by police.
The Home Ownership Scheme, introduced in the 1970s (under the British colonial
government), basically offered affordable homes for people with low income. This scheme was terminated in 2003. Since then, the HK government has been known for colluding with real estate developers and rigging the property market. There were some discussion in trying to bring back the scheme in 2010. Some examples of real estate corruption cases include Hung Hom Peninsula incident. Former Chief Secretary for Administration
Anson Chan
have pointed out that giving $6000 is not the best option. Lee Cheuk-yan have also said the money handout will not solve widening wealth gaps.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
on 6 March 2011 due to dissatisfaction with the HK government's management of finance by Financial Secretary
Financial Secretary (Hong Kong)
Financial Secretary , often abbreviated as FS, is a position of the Government of Hong Kong. The FS assists the Chief Executive in supervising the policy bureaux as directed by the CE, mostly finance and economy-related, and plays a key role in ensuring harmonisation in policy formulation and...
John Tsang
John Tsang
John Tsang Chun-wah , GBM, JP, is the current Financial Secretary of Hong Kong. His responsibility is to assist the Chief Executive of Hong Kong in overseeing policy formulation and implementation in financial, monetary, economic, trade and employment matters. He exercises control over the...
. After 7 straight years of budget surplus, the government had a record HK$580 billion in reserve. But despite this, government members still refuse to address the income and financial inequality.
Cause
On 23 February 2011 John Tsang delivered the annual "2011-2012 HK Budget summary". The HK government was under pressure to give some of the money back to the community. As part of the plan Financial secretary John Tsang proposed that HK$24 billion be put into a Mandatory Provident FundMandatory provident fund
The Mandatory Provident Fund , often abbreviated as MPF , is a compulsory saving scheme for the retirement of residents in Hong Kong...
. This began a series of complaints and outrage.
Complaints and resolutions
The MPF fund is highly controversial. It was introduced in 2000 and has long been criticised as unfair. The fund has a high management fee of 1.85%, in 10 years the fund providers have earned an estimated HK$33 billion. Of the 19 providers, each earned an average of HK$1.75 billion, while the 2.5 million MPF investors have lost an average of HK$13,200. The fund is similar to a long term 401k type account. Except the payout after age 65 could be very low depending on the investor and situation. The fund is also known for not covering certain demographics. Only 2.5 million out of 4 million workers have MPF accounts.After complaints, John Tsang made a U-turn to cancel the MPF fund plan. Instead HK$6000 and other tax rebates were given out to HK permanent
Hong Kong Identity Card
The Hong Kong Identity Card is an official identity document issued by the Immigration Department of Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card is a class of HKID issued to Hong Kong residents who have the right of abode in Hong Kong SAR. According to the Registration of Persons Ordinance...
residents. Citizens under the age of 18 cannot receive this fund. In comparison, Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
have already been offering cash handouts since 2009.
March 6 demonstration
Due to the mismanagement of the surplus, about 10,000 protesters showed up at CentralCentral, Hong Kong
Central is the central business district of Hong Kong. It is located in Central and Western District, on the north shore of Hong Kong Island, across Victoria Harbour from Tsim Sha Tsui, the southernmost point of Kowloon Peninsula...
to demonstrate. A march was held from Chater Garden
Chater Garden
Chater Garden , located in the Central District of Hong Kong, is a public park directly east of the Legislative Council building. It is named after Sir Paul Chater, and one side of the garden is on Chater Road which is also named after him.-History:...
to the Central Government Offices
Central Government Offices
The Central Government Offices houses the most major offices of the Hong Kong Government. Located in Central in Hong Kong, it occupies the lower level of Government Hill.- History :...
. Two police officers were injured. Almost 100 protesters held sit-ins at the government office and Queen's Road
Queen's Road
Queen's Road is the first road in Hong Kong built by the Government of Hong Kong between 1841 and 1843, spanning across Victoria City from Shek Tong Tsui to Wan Chai...
. Protesters shouted slogans saying John Tsang should step down and have no vision. Raymond Wong and Albert Chan
Albert Chan
The Honourable Albert Wai-yip Chan , born 3 March 1955 in Hong Kong) is a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong representing the New Territories West constituency, except for the periods 1997-2000 and Jan-May 2011. Chan is also a member of the Tsuen Wan District Council...
also joined People Power protesters to do villain hitting
Villain hitting
Villain hitting, Da Siu Yan or demon exorcising is a folk sorcery popular in the Guangdong area of China and Hong Kong. Its purpose is to curse one's enemies using magic...
against Donald Tsang and John Tsang.
About 113 protesters were arrested. At 9pm the protesters broke through a police cordon and stormed the traffic lanes of Des Voeux Road
Des Voeux Road
Des Voeux Road Central and Des Voeux Road West are two roads on the north shore of Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. They were named after the 10th Governor of Hong Kong, Sir George William Des Vœux...
and Ice House Street
Ice House Street
Ice House Street is a street in Central on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. The street starts from Lower Albert Road on a hill slope and runs downhill across Queen's Road Central, Des Voeux Road Central, Chater Road and ends in Connaught Road Central....
. Situation became tense. An 8-year-old boy was also pepper spray
Pepper spray
Pepper spray, also known as OC spray , OC gas, and capsicum spray, is a lachrymatory agent that is used in riot control, crowd control and personal self-defense, including defense against dogs and bears...
ed in the eye. A request by 20 members of the League of Social Democrats
League of Social Democrats
The League of Social Democrats or LSD is a radical pro-democratic political party in Hong Kong. Its declared purpose is to "take a clear-cut stand to defend the interests of the grassroots"...
to meet up with Tsang was denied. They left jasmine flowers under a tree and were carried off by police.
Aftermath
In addition to the HK$6000 handout, the Pan-democracy camp also wanted three demands.- A universal retirement protection scheme
- HK$50 billion seed fund
- Resume the Home Ownership SchemeHome Ownership SchemeThe Home Ownership Scheme is a subsidized-sale programme of public housing in Hong Kong managed by the Hong Kong Housing Authority...
The Home Ownership Scheme, introduced in the 1970s (under the British colonial
Colonial Hong Kong
In the 19th century the British, Dutch, French, Indians and Americans saw Imperial China as the world's largest untapped market. In 1840 the British Empire launched their first and one of the most aggressive expeditionary forces to claim the territory that would later be known as Hong Kong.In a few...
government), basically offered affordable homes for people with low income. This scheme was terminated in 2003. Since then, the HK government has been known for colluding with real estate developers and rigging the property market. There were some discussion in trying to bring back the scheme in 2010. Some examples of real estate corruption cases include Hung Hom Peninsula incident. Former Chief Secretary for Administration
Chief Secretary for Administration
The Chief Secretary for Administration , commonly known as Chief Secretary and abbreviated as CS, is the second highest position of the Hong Kong Government...
Anson Chan
Anson Chan
Anson Maria Elizabeth Chan Fang On-sang GBM GCMG CBE JP was a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong for Hong Kong Island, succeeding the late legislator Ma Lik....
have pointed out that giving $6000 is not the best option. Lee Cheuk-yan have also said the money handout will not solve widening wealth gaps.