Hong Kong Set to Unveil Budget With Property, Tourism in Focus – BNN Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) — Hong Kong will unveil a budget Wednesday that’s expected to ease some property-related curbs, boost tourism and attract investment into the financial hub as its economy searches for traction in 2024. 

Financial Secretary Paul Chan is set to deliver his budget address for the upcoming fiscal year around 11 a.m. Analysts and economists have pointed to the likelihood that the rollout will include the lowering of some rates on stamp duties to alleviate pressure on the city’s troubled real estate sector. Policies to entice more visitors have also been reported in local news outlets. 

Confidence in Hong Kong has waned as home prices tumble to a seven-year low, national security measures erode freedoms of expression and a stock rout makes it one of the world’s worst-performing equity markets. High interest rates and China’s growth slowdown have also weighed on the city’s recovery from the pandemic slump. 

One focus will be on the city’s…