‘Squeezed further’: calls for SME energy subsidies as power fuel surcharges soar

An industry leader and a lawmaker have called for subsidies for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) after fuel surcharges imposed by Hong Kong’s two power suppliers jumped by nearly 80 per cent and 15 per cent respectively since March, following the outbreak of the Middle East conflict. HK Electric, which supplies electricity mainly to Hong Kong Island and Lamma Island, announced that its fuel clause charge would rise by 5.9 per cent from last month to 60.7 HK cents per kilowatt-hour…