Hong Kong 2016 GDP tops forecast as new budget unveiled

Hong Kong's economy grew at a slower pace of 1.9 percent in 2016 despite a pick-up to 3.1 percent year-on-year in the final quarter, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said in his maiden budget speech on Wednesday.

That figure was near the upper end of the government's projected band of 1-2 percent, and it topped a forecast of 1.5 percent.

Chan said Hong Kong expects its economy to expand 2 to 3 percent in 2017 — far more than a 1.3 percent expansion forecast by economists surveyed by Reuters.

That data and projection accompanied Chan's comments on the city's 2017-2018 budget.

Chan began delivering his first budget speech at 11 a.m. HK/SIN. The attention is on him to steer the economy amid global uncertainties and rapid advances in technology.

He said the "slightly improved" global economy will support Hong Kong's exports, but added that the uncertain external environment — not in the least due to potential trade protection policies in the U.S. and China's shift to a domestic-driven growth — continues to pose risks.

For the financial year ending March 2017, Chan expects a surplus of HK$92.8 billion ($12 billion), adding to fiscal reserves expected to reach HK$935.7 billion ($120.6 billion).

The Financial Secretary, who took office in January after his predecessor resigned, announced several one-off measures on his speech including a reduction in personal salaries, corporate profits taxes and waiving property levies.

In an attempt to lift the flagging tourism industry, he introduced a one-year licence fee waiver for travel agents, hotels and guesthouses, as well as restaurants and hawkers. That would save the industry some HK$137 million ($17.7 million). The government will also allocate HK$243 million ($31.3 million) in the coming financial year to enhance Hong Kong's appeal as a tourist destination through projects such as green tours and cruise tourism.

A tax expert told CNBC before the start of Chan's budget speech that it is critical for the city to spend on strengthening its economy and competitiveness — or risk losing its standing as an international business center.

Speaking on CNBC's " Rundown ," KPMG China tax partner Charles Kinsley cited a survey by his firm in which 45 percent of respondents said they think Hong Kong will lose competitiveness as more jurisdictions lower their tax rates to lure investors.

"Because of that, the competitiveness we're seeing today could be eroded away if Hong Kong doesn't change. That is one of the reasons people are looking at helping the tourism sector, helping the financial services to stay competitive," he said.

"But we're also expecting to see a lot more money be given back to the community in terms of elderly care, education, promoting [small and medium enterprises] and also the key focus we saw in Singapore, which is innovation, technology, intellectual property."

Kinsley, however, said there is unlikely to be large "sweeteners" and radical changes in the budget for the coming financial year starting April. This is because the budget, the last under current Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, has to leave some flexibility for his successor.

KPMG forecasted the special administrative region to record a HK$77 billion ($9.9 billion) surplus for the fiscal year 2016-2017, exceeding the government's initial estimate of HK$11.4 billion ($1.5 billion) due to higher revenues from land sales and stamp duties.

The South China Morning Post, citing a person familiar with Hong Kong's finances, reported that Chan is expected to unveil a budget with a HK$80 billion ($10.3 billion) surplus.

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Correction: An earlier version of this story cited a wire report on Hong Kong 2016 and Q4 GDP that has since been corrected.

—Reuters contributed to this report.