SAR offers help to protest-affected firms, individuals

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government announced a series of relief measures worth HK$19.1 billion ($2.44 billion) on Thursday to offer support after the city said it now expects 2019 economic growth to be up to 1 percent from 2 to 3 percent previously.

The move comes at a difficult time as worries of a possible recession and waves of anti-extradition law protests weigh on sentiment, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said at a news conference on Thursday.

The measures are intended to "relieve the burden" on struggling enterprises and help citizens "maintain confidence" in the local economy which will hopefully boost Hong Kong's economic output by 0.3 percent, Chan said.