【明報專訊】IN THE BUDGET it is proposed that every permanent resident of Hong Kong aged 18 and above be given $10,000 in a cash handout. The government hopes that the plan will encourage citizens to spend money after the epidemic and stimulate the economy. However, that Hong Kong people who moved overseas long ago also get to have a share of the handout has attracted much discussion. As far as saving time and administrative costs is concerned, the arrangements for the cash handout should be as simple as possible. But the issue of fairness should also be considered. It is estimated that Hong Kong people who have moved abroad number at least hundreds of thousands. Cash handouts to those people could easily translate into nearly $10 billion. Some of these people have long put down roots in a foreign country and do not pay any taxes in Hong Kong. They come to Hong Kong occasionally just to visit their family and friends. Including them in the cash handout scheme has inevitably disgruntled some citizens. As the cash handout involves $70 billion and the aim is to prop up the economy, it is hardly reasonable to spend nearly $10 billion on people who have not lived in Hong Kong for years. The government is worried that if Hong Kong people who have emigrated are excluded from the plan outright, a judicial review could ensue. However, the government can at least set up some administrative hurdles (an example being the requirement that the application must be made in Hong Kong) to make sure that the majority of citizens feel that the arrangements are fair and just.