In 2016 the government used 77 per cent of the MOP11.07 billion granted budget, which was 24.6 per cent higher than the previous year.
Meanwhile the granted PIDDA budget for 2017 was increased by 37.8 per cent year-on-year to MOP15.25 billion, with Secretary for Economy and Finance Lionel Leong Vai Tac saying at the time the increase was due to the need of higher expenses for the construction of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Bridge artificial island.
This year the Chief executive announced a the 2018 budget for PIDDA would increase by 38.6 per cent yearly to MOP21.1 billion, an increase said to have been one of the main reasons for the 14.5 per cent yearly rise the expense budget for 2018 of MOP109.61 billion (US$13.63 billion), the first time the MSAR expenses will surpass MOP100 billion.
