The red packets given out by our financial secretary in his budget speech this week brought a lot of smiles and applause from people from all walks of lives. Even the recipients of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance got a piece of the cake, with an extra one-month grant of about HK$1,400 for an adult and HK$1,600 for a child. It was a treat for everyone, but the question is: did riches really bring hope or a chance to improve and move ahead?

It is an important role of the government to redistribute and balance the gains, so that our society can be more inclusive. Mr Tang has rightly tried to make such a move, but Hong Kong needs more than a fair dividend of the riches earned. It needs investments and planning for the future, to build capacities and bring hope to the disadvantaged. more.....