香港財政司司長曾俊華發表新年度財政預算案。港府駐英經貿辦事處處長胡寶珠表示，預算案將針對金融海嘯衝擊下的經濟問題，重點保障港人就業，提高香港國際間的競爭力。

港府將撥款16億元，未來三年，創造6萬2千個工作及實習機會，包括擴大舊樓維修資助，開創1萬個職位，又資助企業請大學畢業生實習，4000人受惠。

政府預期今年本港經濟會收縮2%至3%，是98年亞洲金融風暴以來，再次出現年度負增長。整體通脹回落至1.6%。未來5年，政府財政都會錄得綜合赤字。預算案將會造成399億元赤字。

在寬免措施方面，政府將會寬免2季差餉，每戶每季上限1500元，又會寬減今個財政年度一半的薪俸稅及個人入息稅，上限是6000元。

Hong Kong announced in the annual Budget a multi-pronged strategy to combat the fallout from the global financial crisis, with a series of measures to tackle both the immediate and longer term challenges by creating jobs, improayving the environment, fostering economic development and building a caring community, said Sarah Wu, the Director-General of Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in London.
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The Meridian Society will be hosting a FREE public talk on Friday 27th February, 2009 in association with the CSSA of The School of Oriental and African Studies, Imperial College and London School of Economics. The lecture will be delivered by Ms Peng Wenlan, new Chair of The Meridian Society.

COVERAGE OF SOCIAL ISSUES ON CHINESE TELEVISION

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