Borrison/hk-legicost huggingface dataset:
所以，我與很多朋友的看法一樣，此刻應該開始通往月球、火星甚至其他行 星的偉大探險。從長遠來看，相對於那些年復一年的辯論和爭吵，現時進行的太空項目更有意義。
However I believe like many of my friends that travelling to the Moon and eventually to Mars and to other planets is a venture which we should undertake now and the ongoing project in the long run will be more meaningful than those debated and discussed year after year
"他甚至在信中特別提到，願意每年再多花5美元、10美元捐助飢餓兒童。
He even mentioned in his letter that he was willing to donate an extra US5 or US10 a year to help the starving children
第三，剛才提及，一個太空總署署長與一位修女的對話，可以引起社會上的一些關注。
Thirdly as mentioned earlier the dialogue between a director at NASA and a nun succeeded in drawing some concern from society
引申下來，就政府如何推動所有政策或徵稅，我建議特區政府認真看看。
By the same token I suggest that the SAR Government should take a serious look at how to drive forward all the policies or taxation efforts
現時我們看到政府整個止暴制亂的過程，除了香港警方之外，有很多部門是不合作的。
Currently we see that many government departments are uncooperative with the Police throughout the process of stopping violence and curbing disorder
所以，在推動這件事的整個過程中，我感覺不到特區政府一條心。
Therefore throughout the progression of this matter I do not feel the SAR Government being united as one
剛才提及"銀齡卡"，政府無法為60至64歲的人士未算長者的"銀齡"朋友提供2元乘車優惠，這樣可以節省多少呢？
Regarding the silver age card mentioned earlier the Government cannot offer the 2 fare concession to those aged between 60 and 64 who are not considered elderly
特區政府沒有建構一個和諧的社會，提供渠道或討論點。
The SAR Government has not built a harmonious society where channels or opportunities for discussion are available
政府沒有賺盡政治光環，這又是政治錯誤。
The Government has not made the best out of the political aura which is yet another political mistake
新聞處如何協助？
How can the Information Services Department provide assistance?
教育方面，我覺得現時市民不明白繳稅的作用，教育局可否在課本內加入這些元素，講解何謂社會、何謂公民責任？
As far as education is concerned I do not think that the public understand the purpose of paying tax so can the Education Bureau include these elements in the textbooks to explain what society and civic responsibilities are?
這樣的話，將來施政就會相對容易。
Should that be the case the future governance will be relatively easy
可是，我感覺不到政府有這樣做，導致香港今天面對如此大的困難，其原因亦離不開官僚架構體制之下的溫水煮蛙。
However I do not feel that the Government has done so . As a consequence Hong Kong is faced with such a huge challenge today and the boiling - frog effect under the bureaucratic system is definitely a reason for that
所以，當遇到一些很大的問題也不敢說是否大問題當遇到一些困難的時候，人們就很容易利用一件事攻擊政府。
Therefore when faced with some enormous issues―well it is not necessarily the enormity that matters―when faced with some difficulties people are apt to seize on an incident to attack the Government
當建制派議員面對地區壓力的時候，我們真的很想政府提供一些紓困措施。
When faced with pressure from the districts we pro - establishment Members really want the Government to introduce some relief measures
然而，當局有時候不太聽我們的意見，用我們建議的方法、一些市民能夠接受的方法去落實，反而會閉門造車，說已經回應了建制派議員或其他議員，包括我、公民黨或其他提出意見的議員，但當局不是用我們的方法。
Nevertheless the authorities sometimes take an armchair approach to the implementation instead of listening to our views or adopting our suggested methods that are acceptable to the public . They claim to have responded to pro - establishment Members or other Members including me Members of the Civic Party or other Members who have expressed views but the authorities are not using our method
這是導致整個議會對政府不滿、甚至與其產生摩擦的最大問題。
This is the biggest problem that has led to the entire Councils discontent and even friction with the Government
即使議會在事務委員會層面通過了某些不具約束力的議案，政府也要認真與議員商討，尋找一個好的方法。
Even if the Council has passed some non - binding motions at the Panel level the Government has yet to earnestly discuss with Members to find a good solution
我從今天開始再放話，就與特區政府之間的合作關係，我不會再如此"戇居"，我一定會尋找一種方法，要特區政府與議會一同承擔政治責任，而不是讓特區政府推說與負責經濟的政策局無關，要由議會一力承擔，然後迫使議會提出全體委員會審議階段修正案，要求政府改動，然後就因為無謂的底線，政府發放不正確的信息，甚至好像"空置稅"或加大首次置業的貸款計劃般，說擔心刺激樓市，又說會刺激市民買樓。
I would like to begin spreading the message today that I will not be so stupid any more in cooperating with the SAR Government . I will definitely find a way to make the SAR Government shoulder political responsibility together with the Council rather than let it ask the Council to single - handedly shoulder the responsibility on the pretext that there is nothing to do with the Policy Bureau responsible for economic affairs and then force the Council to put forward a Committee stage amendment seeking modification from the Government and then release misinformation on the grounds of a meaningless bottom line and even say it is worried about stimulating the property market and home purchases as in the case of vacancy tax or expansion of loan schemes for home starters
這是政府自行想象的，政府最後來到議會也應該面對政治現實，而不是按鈕表決便可以。
Despite this being its own imagination the Government should face the political reality when it eventually comes to this Council . It is not simply a matter of pushing a button to vote
建制派多年來或許有些是，我未必是，有些一定是本着一種忍辱負重的態度，說沒有了這2萬元，市民會更慘，雖然不太好 也先接受，而政治責任便由議員承擔了。
Over the years pro - establishment Members―maybe some of them not necessarily myself but definitely some of them―have been holding the attitude of enduring humiliation for a great cause . For the time being they would thus accept the ceiling of 20,000 albeit unsatisfactory saying that the public would be even worse off without it
所以，政府要就將來所做的事負上責任，重新考慮與議會之間的關係。
Consequently the political responsibility would be borne by Members . Therefore the Government should bear responsibility for what it will do in the future and reconsider its relationship with the Council
主席，我想藉着是次在《2019年稅務條例草案》全體委員會審議階段的發言，詳細說明我為何支持當局的修正案，以及闡述我對公共理財的看法。
Chairman I would like to speak at the Committee stage of the Inland Revenue Amendment Bill 2019 to elaborate on the reasons why I support the amendments proposed by the Government as well as my views on public finance
政府也曾派發現金，在上一財政年度派發了4,000元，但卻弄得滿城風雨及"一鑊粥"，我至今仍會收到零星的市民投訴，指出尚未收到這4,000元。
The Government has handed out cash as in the case of the 4,000 given in the last financial year but the exercise has aroused a huge uproar and ended up in a mess . Recently I have still received a few complaints recently from members of the public about not getting the money
所以，政府只向繳稅較多的納稅人退稅，向最弱勢及最需要幫助的人發放"雙糧"，但對於介乎上述兩者之間的市民卻沒有給予太多照顧。
Hence by merely offering tax concessions to taxpayers who pay more tax and giving double pay to the most underprivileged and the most needy the Government has failed to provide much care to those who are in between these two social strata
我雖然支持今次提出的修正案，但卻認為政府要認真考慮如何在不同的經濟周期下，在公共理財方面做到雨露均霑。
I do support the amendments under discussion but I find it necessary for the Government to seriously consider how it can benefit everyone in terms of public finance under different economic cycles
特別是在經濟好景時，須讓每一階層均能分享經濟發展的成果，不會讓人感到政府忽略了一大群人或分配不均，因而引起社會不滿。
In particular efforts should be made to make sure that all classes in society can share the fruit of economic development at time of economic prosperity so as to avoid giving people the perception that a certain social group has been neglected by the Government due to uneven distribution of resources thus leading to social discontent
政府一直沒有嘗試建立一個分紅機制，而在公共理財併入這種機制的一個例子是新加坡。
The Government has never tried to set up a profit sharing mechanism and the practice adopted in Singapore is an example of incorporating such a system into public finance management
為何政府不能好好建立一個派息機制，令每一市民可公平地成為政府、社會運作的持份者？
Why is it not possible for the Government to set up a dividend distribution mechanism properly so that each citizen will become a stakeholder of the work of the Government and social operation in a fair manner?
分紅機制可確保事事一清二楚，大公無私，人人感到合理和平均，並令派發金錢的行政成本減至最低。
A dividend distribution mechanism will help to ensure that everything will be handled clearly and impartially so that everyone will accept that they are given a reasonable and even share while the amount of administrative costs involved in handing out cash will be kept to a minimum
我們很希望政府能好好思考這個問題，否則每次出現豐厚財政盈餘時，便會面對幸福的煩惱，這煩惱甚至會形成一個政治危機。
We very much hope that the Government will give careful consideration to this issue otherwise it will be faced with the same happy problem again whenever a huge financial surplus is recorded and this problem will even result in a political crisis
有些市民感到當局連派發4,000元這麼簡單的事也做不好，還說甚麼其他大道理呢？
Some members of the public are of the view that as the Government cannot even do its job well when handling such a simple exercise of handing out 4,000 what else can we expect of the Administration?
我希望政府就此思考一下。
I hope the Government will give some thoughts to this
第二方面，除了派發金錢之外，亦要研究如何在市場播種，刺激內需。
On the other hand apart from the provision of financial assistance the Government should also examine what it should do to explore market opportunities and boost domestic demand
我們提出"香港人遊香港"的構思，希望政府資助市民參加本地旅遊團，即使是一天或兩日一夜也好。
We have put forward the idea of Hong Kong people touring around Hong Kong and urged the Government to promote local tours among local residents by subsidizing part of the fees of these group tours be they one - day tours or two - day trips
當然，現在最重要的是要止暴制亂，重建香港的法治權威，因法治有其權威性，市民必須遵守法律，不能以違反法例為榮，以為"跳閘"是很正義的行為，蒙面破壞則完全無需負上刑責。
Certainly the most important task before us now is to stop violence and curb disorder thereby rebuilding the authority of the rule of law in Hong Kong . The law has its authority and all of us in Hong Kong should abide by the law and should not take pride in violating the law and believing that acting as a free riders is a justified act and committing vandalism with face covered can escape criminal liability
只有恢復法治權威，才能保障我們的自由，從而......
Only by rebuilding the authority of the rule of law can our freedom be protected and thus
舉例來說，我們最重要的是要有免於恐懼的自由和做生意的自由，不會有公司因其背景、其股東或負責人的政見而受到攻擊或抵制。
Why do I say so? . For example it is most important that we should have the freedom from fear and the freedom to do business and no company will be attacked or boycotted for its background or the political views expressed by its shareholders or persons in charge
我們也要有出行的自由，不會因為擔心某地區可能有大型遊行、暴力或騷亂事件而不敢外出。
Similarly we should also have the freedom to move about in this city and we should not be afraid of going out for fear that there will be large scale processions violence or riots in certain districts
在恢復這些自由後，經濟便能恢復正常狀態，而在這狀態下，政府才會有穩定的收入。
When these freedoms are restored our economy will return to normal and the government will have stable revenue
政府必須有改革和創新的思維，才能為香港帶來轉機和希望。
To turn crisis into opportunity and bring hope to Hong Kong the Government must have a reform and innovative mindset
當然，還富於民是好事。特區政府在財政預算方面，在過去22年當中，只有5年出現赤字，而在其他財政年度，均有盈餘，有時很可觀。
The SAR Government recorded deficits in only five of the past 22 years of its financial budgets while surpluses were achieved in other financial years which were quite substantial sometimes
財政司司長為香港囤積財富，但卻往往被市民責罵他的估算做得差。
However while the Financial Secretary hoards wealth for Hong Kong he is scolded by the public all the time for poor estimates
總之，他做得好要捱罵，做得不好更會被嚴厲指責。
In short people will blame him even though he has done a good job and harshly criticize him if he has not done well
香港僅有的最大資源就是人力資源，包括我們的思維。
The greatest resource that Hong Kong has is its manpower including the human mind
可是，與內地只相隔一條河的我們，就是不懂得把握周邊環境提供的機遇，為甚麼會這樣的呢？
Hong Kong is separated from the Mainland by a river only however we are not alert enough to grasp the opportunities offered by places nearby . Why?
換言之，它的面積是我 們的50多倍，人口差不多是我們的10倍。
In other words its area is over 50 times the size of ours and its population is almost 10 times that of ours
好的，我其實是談及經濟的問題。
Alright I am actually talking about the economy
我很擔心，在8月26日的中文大學迎新日竟有300多隻"曱甴"，教我以為"伊斯蘭國"已遷都中文大學的百萬大道。
I am so worried because some 300 cockroaches were present at the Orientation Day of The Chinese University of Hong Kong CUHK on 26 August which had almost convinced me that the capital of ISIS was moved to the Million Boulevard of CUHK
我想何君堯議員澄清他提到香港中文大學的曱甴所指為何？
I would like Dr Junius HO to clarify what he was referring to when he mentioned the cockroaches of CUHK
主席，我們需要甚麼？
President what are we truly in need of?
主席，財政預算案建議一次性寬減2018-2019課稅年度75%的薪俸稅、個人入息課稅及利得稅，每宗個案以2萬元為上限，有關扣減會在2018-2019年度的稅款中反映，會有191萬人受惠，亦有145,000個須繳稅的法團及非法團業務受惠，政府稅收會減少189億元。
President the Budget has proposed one - off reductions of salaries tax tax under personal assessment and profits tax for year of assessment 2018 - 2019 by 75 % subject to a ceiling of 20,000 per case . The reductions to be reflected in the tax payable for 2018 - 2019 will benefit 1.91 million people and 145 000 tax - paying corporations and unincorporated businesses . The revenue forgone amounts to 18.9 billion
我們對此當然是支持的，香港表面上是一個低稅制的地方，但這不表示人民生活安樂舒服，主要因為香港低收入人士的生活非常艱苦，最痛苦的是他們的收入長期沒有增加。
We certainly support these reductions . Hong Kong has a low tax regime on the surface but this does not mean that the people are leading a life of comfort . It is mainly because the low - income earners in Hong Kong face great difficulties in their living and to them it is most agonizing that there has been no increase in their income over a long period of time
所以，對於政府所有的紓困措施，我是非常支持的。
Therefore I very much support all the relief measures proposed by the Government
所以，今次政府寬減稅項以2萬元為上限，我覺得政府真的要積極進取一點。
Such being the case regarding the Governments proposal of imposing a 20,000 ceiling on the tax reductions I think the Government should really be more proactive
在今次社會暴亂之後，大家都明白發生的很多事情背後有一個 很大的原因。
After the outbreak of riots in society we all understand that there is a major cause behind many problems
第一，他們要自由民主，我當然支持，但無可否認，香港是中國的一部分，我們用甚麼步伐走，是快是慢，真的要與中國商討。
First they want freedom and democracy . These I certainly support . But there is no denying that Hong Kong is part of China
我相信需要認真地解釋，令中央信服香港繼續維持"一國兩制"對香港、對國家、對國際都有好處，這是必須做的，但我亦知道一點，也就是如果香港亂了、散了、"攬炒"了，便不會對香港、對國家、對國際有任何好處。
I believe it is necessary to seriously make explanations to convince the Central Authorities that the continuous implementation of one country two systems is beneficial to Hong Kong to the country and to the international community . This must be done . But I am also aware of one point and that is if Hong Kong is in chaos in tatters or made to perish together that would not do any good to Hong Kong; nor to the country and the international community
所以，我認同大家對民主的訴求，但我絕不同意用這種方法，方法很明顯是錯的。
Therefore I share their aspiration for democracy but I absolutely disagree to the use of this approach which is obviously wrong
首先讓我問一個問題，我們經常說民主、自由。
First of all let me ask a question . We always talk about democracy and freedom
民主最重要的是要尊重其他人，現在沒有問過其他人便破壞別人的成果。
The essence of democracy is respect for other people . What is happening now is that other people are not consulted when steps are taken to destroy their achievements . As I always say the middle - class people are most pitiable
我經常說最可憐的就是這群中產人士，他們克勤克儉、努力數十年才得到成果，現在說要破壞他們的成果，因為反正我沒有，你也不應該擁有，那究竟是中產人士自私還是破壞的人自私呢？
They have worked diligently while scrimping and saving and it takes decades of hard work for them to attain these achievements . Now it is said that their achievements should be destroyed because after all I do not have these achievements and so you should not have them either . Tell me who are selfish the middle - class people or the destroyers?
如果你這樣做是為大家指向一條生路，例如在破壞後，你肯定有一個比現時優勝10倍的烏托邦，每人可以有一間一二千平方呎的房子，月入10多萬元，社會天下太平，大家安居樂業，我當然讓你破壞，但現在我只看到你破壞，完全看不到社會有任何重建的機會，甚至在造成破壞後的10多年也無法重建今天的水平，最慘便是這樣。
Suppose you are doing these things in order to show people a way out . For instance if you are sure that inflicting these damages will usher in a utopia which is 10 times better than the present situation where everybody will have a home of 1 000 sq ft or 2 000 sq ft and make an income of over 100,000 and there will be peace and order in society and everybody will live and work happily I would of course let you do these damages . But now all I can see is that you are causing damages and I entirely do not see any chance for society to be rebuilt and worse still it is impossible to return to todays standard a decade or so after the damages are done and alas that would be most tragic
"六十分鐘時事雜誌"拍攝到整個旅行箱內都是燃燒彈，不停在投擲，外國人看到都嚇得呆了。
60 Minutes has filmed shots of a luggage full of Molotov cocktails and people hurling them non - stop which left the foreigners petrified
他們以往說香港很好，200萬人遊行也沒有損壞一塊玻璃，人家是尊重香港的和平。
They used to speak very highly of Hong Kong as not even a glass panel was broken in a rally with 2 million people taking part in it and they respected the peacefulness of Hong Kong
你說"和理非"沒有用，"和理非"的效果是慢的，但長遠的鬥爭一定要慢慢改變，令人心改變，而不是用恐懼、人多欺負人少、毆打別人的方法，別人持不同意見便去圍毆他們，不准他們再說下去，誰再這樣說便被"起底"，令其他人不再光顧。
You may say that a peaceful rational and non - violent approach is useless . Yes a peaceful rational and non - violent approach works slowly but when putting up a long - term struggle changes must be induced slowly in order to change the peoples mind rather than resorting to fear tactics or the approach of the majority suppressing the minority or beating up other people who hold different views barring them from speaking their minds and doxxing those who continue to speak their minds or making other people stop patronizing their shops
我們香港人不要這樣的民主，香港人很厭惡這種所謂民主，因為根本是不民主、不自由，將我們的基業全部破壞，然後不可能再重建。
We Hongkongers do not want this kind of democracy . Hongkongers abhor this kind of democracy so to speak for it is downright undemocratic and unfree and it is wreaking havoc on all of our fundamentals making it impossible for us to rebuild ever again
我認為應全力扶助低收入家庭，但我們同時要改變生態，令他們的收入增加，提供更多工種選擇以配合他們的工作能力，從而得到更好的收入。
I think we should make the utmost effort to support the low - income families but at the same time we should change the social ecology by increasing their income and providing them with more job choices suiting their working ability so as to enable them to make a better income
我們要讓他們有多些假期，現在勞工假期和公眾假期相差5天，政府在這方面應該盡量作出改善，讓100萬人受惠，工人如多了5天家庭團聚時間，便會多謝政府。
We should give them more holidays . At present there is a discrepancy of five days between labour holidays and general holidays and in this regard the Government should make improvement by all means for the benefit of 1 million workers . They will thank the Government if they can have five more days to spend with their families
市民覺得被迫"攬炒"好，還是多交一點稅好呢？
Which is better to the people being forced to perish together or paying a little more in tax?
如果政府願意這樣做，日後再進取一點，月薪6萬元也無需交稅，然後再調高至月薪7萬元，這樣市民便會覺得你真的尊重中產，真的明白我們的困苦，大家知道中產的開支有多大嗎？
If the Government is willing to adopt this initiative it can be more aggressive in future by waiving tax for people making 60,000 a month and further increase the threshold to 70,000 a month . This way the public will think that the Government truly respects the middle - class people and that it truly appreciates their plights . Do Members know how hefty the expenses are for the middle class?
說"攬炒"，真正受害的卻是這些市民，這是否對得起香港人？
These people will be the real victims of the notion of burning together . Can this do justice to Hongkongers?
所以，有同事在財務委員會說，"如果你再這樣，我便叫人包圍立法會"。
So a colleague said in the Finance Committee If you go on doing this I will tell people to besiege the Legislative Council
同事這麼厲害，可以叫人包圍，他當然也可以叫人不包圍立法會，我相信他有能力呼籲行使暴力的人不要再使用暴力，因為他們這樣做，這個運動便一定會死亡。
This colleague is so awesome as to be able to tell people to besiege the Legislative Council and surely he can tell people not to besiege the Legislative Council . I believe he has the ability to appeal to people using violence to cease the violence . It is because their doing so will definitely lead to the demise of this movement
所以，我們必須明白，這個運動一定會衰敗，為甚麼呢？
Therefore we must understand that this movement is destined to fail . Why?
所以，到了這個階段，我覺得暴力必須停止，但亦需要和解，如何和解呢？
Therefore as things have developed to the present state I think violence must stop . Yet reconciliation is also necessary . How to achieve reconciliation?
我覺得這個議會失智，令香港失智；議會的暴力衝擊、衝向主席罵主席，主席進來也不理會，沒規沒矩，穿T恤、波鞋進入會議廳，正正是因為不守規矩，大家都不知道原來是有規矩的，原來可以將這些規矩摧毀也沒問題的，而這就是問題所在。
I think this Council is demented thus making Hong Kong demented too . In this Council there are violent attacks as Members charged at the President and hurled abuses at him . Members ignored the President when he entered the Chamber defying the rules and regulations; Members entered the Chamber in T - shirts and sneakers exactly because they do not observe the rules and regulations
為了對得起香港人，我們要多些時間開財委會會議，以批出這些款項，因為這700億元是最能幫助香港低下階層的市民的，亦希望可令香港回復生機。
To live up to the expectations of Hongkongers we must spend more time holding Finance Committee meetings to make available these funds for this 70 billion will be most helpful to the lower - class people in Hong Kong . It is also hoped that this can enable Hong Kong to come back to life again
所以，市民要看清楚，現在香港太多謊言、太多歪理，大家如果不保持清醒，便一定會後悔。
Therefore the public must see the picture clearly . There are too many lies and too many sophistries in Hong Kong now and one who does not stay alert will definitely regret
主席，自由黨當然希望《2019年稅務條例草案》盡快通過，給處於水深火熱的業界一點幫助，為他們打氣，因為現時業界士氣低落，亦可為繳稅的市民帶來少許紓緩作用。
President the Liberal Party certainly hopes that the Inland Revenue Amendment Bill 2019 the Bill is passed as soon as possible in order to offer some help and encouragement to the industry caught in dire straits and a low morale . The Bill will also somewhat bring relief to taxpayers
不過，《條例草案》涉及的減壓措施其實非常有限，主要寬減2018-2019課稅年度須繳交的薪俸稅、利得稅及個人入息課稅，以反映當局在2019-2020年度財政預算案提出的部分寬減措施，涉及的稅款約為億元。
However the relief measures proposed in the Bill are actually very limited . They mainly seek to give effect to the proposal in the 2019 - 2020 Budget to reduce salaries tax profits tax and tax under personal assessment for the year of assessment 2018 - 2019 . The total revenue forgone amounts to 20 billion
有關扣減會在納稅人2018-2019課稅年度的最終應繳稅款中反映。
The reductions will be reflected in taxpayers final tax payable for the year of assessment 2018 - 2019
受惠者只有約190萬名薪俸稅及個人入息課稅的納稅人，以及約145,000個須繳稅的法團及非法團業務，可見《條例草案》幫助的對象是有能力交稅的一群，故可以預期，大部分中小微企及市民也未能受惠。
The Bill will benefit only about 1.9 million taxpayers of salaries tax and tax under personal assessment and 145 000 tax - paying corporations and unincorporated businesses . We can thus see that the Bill targets people who are eligible to pay tax and it can be expected the majority of micro small and medium enterprises and members of the public will not be able to benefit from it
此外，自由黨亦曾建議預算案提高個人基本免稅額至15萬元，要求現屆政府切實考慮，但未獲接納。
Moreover the Liberal Party has also requested the current - term Government to give serious consideration to raising the basic personal allowance to 150,000 in the Budget but the proposal was not adopted
當局解釋，過去數年薪俸稅及 個人入息課稅已作出多項調整，以減輕納稅人的稅務負擔，包括自2018-2019課稅年度起稅階已由4個增至5個，而各個稅階已由2017-2018課稅年度起由40,000元擴闊至45,000元，繼而由2018-2019課稅年度起擴闊至50,000元，邊際稅率亦有所調整。
According to the Administrations explanation a number of adjustments have been made in the past few years to salaries tax and tax under personal assessment in order to alleviate the fiscal burden on taxpayers . For instance the number of tax bands was increased from four to five since the year of assessment 2018 - 2019 and the width of tax bands was widened from 40,000 to 45,000 in the year of assessment 2017 - 2018 which was further widened to 50,000 in the year of assessment 2018 - 2019 with adjustments also made to marginal tax rates
話雖如此，但這些調整其實只是杯水車薪。
That said these adjustments were merely a drop in the bucket
中產本來便要背負許多生活負擔，又甚少獲政府的照顧，可謂有苦自己知，近期經濟急劇下滑，對他們的收入也有影響，與商界一樣面對資金周轉問題。
The middle - class people who have an enormous burden to bear in their daily lives without much help from the Government can only suffer in silence . In the face of the recent sharp economic downturn their incomes have been affected and they are encountering cash flow problems just like the business sector
在這艱難時刻，政府實在更應回應他們的需要。
The Government should all the more respond to their needs at this difficult time
須知道，2018-2019財政年度的實際盈餘高達587億元，雖然有預計指明年會出現赤字，但由於本港財政儲備已突破11,000億元大關，面對香港現時惡劣的經濟環境，相信當局仍然有能力承擔更多。
We must bear in mind that the actual surplus in the 2018 - 2019 financial year amounted to 58.7 billion . Although a deficit is estimated for next year I believe the Administration with a fiscal reserve of more than 1,100 billion still has the capacity to make greater commitments under the prevailing adverse economic environment in Hong Kong
正如昨天"財爺"在宣布新一輪紓困措施時也表示，香港有穩健的財政儲備。
As the Financial Secretary said when he announced the new round of relief measures yesterday Hong Kong does have a sound fiscal reserve