Hong Kong pledges US$37 million for businesses hit by pro-democracy protests

Hong Kong announced measures totalling HK$290 million (US$37 million) on Wednesday to help businesses hit by more than two months of pro-democracy protests as the government seeks to rebuild confidence in the Asia financial centre.

Financial Secretary John Tsang, speaking in his budget address, said the measures included waiving licence fees for 26,000 restaurants and other food outlet operators, and running events to promote Hong Kong to investors and tourists.

The government has warned that the Chinese-controlled city must make economic stability a top priority after the Occupy Central demonstrations to demand free elections paralysed parts of Hong Kong and unnerved authorities in Beijing.

(US$1 = 7.7550 Hong Kong dollars)

(Reporting By Anne Marie Roantree, Christina Lo, Farah Master, Donny Kwok, Clare Baldwin)