Public revenue up by 46 percent

In the first two months of 2011, total public revenue (excluding the amounts from the autonomous agencies) has risen by 46.1 percent, in comparison with the same period from last year, with a total of MOP15.63 billion (US$1.95 billion). This increment was due to noticeable increases in the revenue of direct taxes from gaming, up by 46.4 percent, and was contributed by increasing gross gaming revenue, according to the Finance Bureau. Total public expenditure was MOP3.98 billion, with an increase of 217.2 percent in comparison with the same period from last year, which was caused by the increase of transfer payment to autonomous agencies and also for the payment of the Wealth Partaking Scheme. A fiscal surplus of MOP11.65 billion was recorded in the first two months of 2011, up by 23.3 percent as compared with the same period of last year.