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Issuing bonds to tackle Hong Kong deficit not ‘monstrous’: ex-minister Henry Tang

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Issuing bonds to tackle Hong Kong deficit not ‘monstrous’: ex-minister Henry Tang

Hong Kong’s plan to issue bonds to tackle a dire deficit is not “monstrous” but rather a legitimate short- to medium-term solution to improve capital flow, former finance minister Henry Tang Ying-yen has said.

Tang on Tuesday defended the government’s plan, which Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po announced in his budget blueprint, after his successor, John Tsang Chun-wah, warned the measure could affect the city’s credit ratings.

According to Chan’s budget speech last week, Hong Kong planned to issue HK$120 billion (US$15.3 billion) in silver, green and infrastructure bonds to cover the government’s recurring expenses. He remained confident that the city would balance the books within three years.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan announced in his budget blueprint a plan to issue HK$120 billion in bonds. Photo: Elson Li

Tsang, the longest-serving financial secretary from 2007 to 2017, earlier said in a social media post that the city needed to look beyond bond issuances to cover government spending. He also argued the government had “undeniably fallen into an era of structural deficit”.

Speaking in Beijing as a member of the Standing Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Tang, who was the financial secretary before Tsang, called the plan “completely legitimate” as long as there was market demand.

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“Bond issuance for the purpose of maintaining government operations is not monstrous,” Tang said.

“It is acceptable if it is used to strengthen capital flow, and raise funds in the short and medium term when the capital chain is broken.”

Hong Kong’s West Kowloon arts hub funding crisis ‘threatens to halt event deals’

Hong Kong’s budget deficit is expected to balloon to HK$101.6 billion for the current financial year ending in March, almost double last year’s forecast given by the government. Chan said more borrowing would enable the government to maintain cash flow to finance major projects, such as the Northern Metropolis.

Tang, who served as finance chief from 2003 to 2007, ducked a question on whether Hong Kong had already plunged into a structural deficit as Tsang argued.

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But he stressed that Chan had a duty to follow the principle stipulated in the Basic Law, the city’s mini-constitution, that the government needed to avoid deficits and keep expenditure within the limits of revenues.

“If you can be candid to citizens [about the dire financial situation], they can feel your respect and understand the rationale of the measures amid the challenges,” he said, referring to the city’s property downturn and soaring recurring expenditure.

Former finance minister Henry Tang has also expressed support for the city’s coming national security legislation. Photo: Natalie Wong

Tang said that back in 2004 when he proposed issuing HK$20 billion in bonds, bankers described it as “a museum piece” as it was a rarely used tool then to solve the deficit problem.

Following measures to lure mainland Chinese tourists and launch renminbi business that year, he posted the city’s first budget surplus in five years in 2005.

Tang argued that Hong Kong was on the right track to revive its economy by finding new engines in technology and deepening cross-border integration.

Tsang’s remarks on the budget measures triggered heated debate on social media. He said that amid the high-interest rate environment, government bonds might not be as attractive to buyers as depositing their money in banks to secure higher rates of return.

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30,000 yuan in duty-free? Hong Kong CPPCC members want new cap for mainland visitors

He also worried that the city would eventually need to pay the debt’s interest expenses, which could affect its credit ratings, as well as saddle future generations with higher taxes and fewer public services.

On Monday, Tang also expressed support for the city’s coming national security legislation, a requirement under Article 23 of the city’s mini-constitution.

“Without stability, it’s hard to talk about economic development and livelihood improvements,” he said.

He added that countries, including Singapore, had been strengthening their own security legislation, urging the proposed law should be utilised effectively to gain investors’ confidence.

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‘It Won’t Be Enough’: Financial Experts Warn Gen X About Key Retirement Pitfalls

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‘It Won’t Be Enough’: Financial Experts Warn Gen X About Key Retirement Pitfalls
‘It Won’t Be Enough’: Financial Experts Warn Gen X About Key Retirement Pitfalls

As the oldest members of Generation X (those born between 1965 and 1980) approach retirement, financial experts warn that many in this group may not be as prepared as they think. Generation X faces unique challenges as they prepare for retired life, from shortfalls in savings to unexpected costs that may arise.

Here’s what experts say Gen Xers need to know to avoid these key pitfalls and ensure a more secure retirement.

Many Gen Xers are significantly behind in their retirement savings. A recent study by Northwestern Mutual found that only 7% of Gen X respondents have saved more than 10 times their annual income–the amount most experts recommend for a comfortable retirement.

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Perhaps even more concerning, over half of Gen X respondents say they have only saved three times their annual income or less. Fidelity recommends having at least three times your annual salary by age 40, six times your salary by age 50 and eight times your salary by age 60 to stay on track for a comfortable retirement.

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This shortfall in savings is compounded by the fact that many Gen Xers do not have a retirement income plan. According to Allianz, only 30% of Gen Xers have mapped out how they will fund their post-work years, the lowest rate among all generations surveyed.

A common misconception among Americans is that taxes decrease in retirement. However, financial experts caution that many Gen Xers could face higher-than-expected tax burdens. The reason? Most have their retirement savings in tax-deferred accounts, like 401(k)s and IRAs, which require taxes to be paid upon withdrawal.

“The big problem is that a lot of them are going to be faced with a lot of taxes in retirement,” Jonathan Dane, founder and chief investment officer for Defiant Capital Group in Pittsburgh, told U.S. News. He says one way to mitigate this is to stop putting money in tax-deferred accounts and transition to Roth accounts, which allow for tax-free withdrawals.

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Another concern is healthcare costs. While Medicare provides comprehensive coverage starting at age 65, it doesn’t cover everything. Long-term care expenses, like assisted living, typically aren’t included. Experts suggest considering long-term care insurance or using a health savings account (HSA) to prepare for these costs.

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Deregulation to boost banks, a ‘force for strength in the economy’

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Deregulation to boost banks, a ‘force for strength in the economy’

Bank of New York Mellon (BK) CEO Robin Vince joins Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi at the 2025 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to discuss US President Donald Trump’s return to the White House and his expectations for the president’s second term and the impact on the financial sector.

“To see a government that’s really focused on growth and being able to make the economy everything that it can be, because ultimately, as one of America’s leading banks, we are focused on helping our customers to be able to grow and thrive. You know, that’s what our platforms are all about,” Vince says.

As deregulation under Trump is expected to benefit the financial sector, Vince says he’s “not that concerned” about the risks associated with loose regulation. “We have to be vigilant that that doesn’t happen. We need a strong, healthy financial system,” he says, explaining, ” We’ve seen how the strong banks have been able to actually help the system over the course of the events … We’ve been a force for strength in the economy, and that’s actually the role that we should be playing.”

The CEO underlines, “I’m looking forward. I’m thinking about the innovation. I’m thinking about the investment. I’m thinking about helping to make economies grow and our clients be successful.”

Watch the video above to hear more from the BNY CEO on tariff expectations, a potential uptick in merger and acquisition (M&A) activity, and his crypto outlook.

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Click here for more of Yahoo Finance’s coverage from the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Check out Yahoo Finance’s Davos interview with Bank of America (BAC) CEO Brian Moynihan here.

This post was written by Naomi Buchanan.

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Global climate finance alliances at risk as top lenders pull out | Semafor

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Global climate finance alliances at risk as top lenders pull out | Semafor

Major global climate finance alliances are increasingly at risk with European lenders reportedly mulling following major US banks in withdrawing from the UN-backed Net Zero Banking Alliance.

The timing of the departures of top US banks including Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, and Morgan Stanley — as well as four large Canadian counterparts, and potentially top lenders in Europe, too — is significant: US President Donald Trump and other Republicans have led criticism of finance’s role in the energy transition, and the latest departures come months after the COP29 climate summit sought to increase targets for global climate finance.

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