11.   Last week, leaders of seven major political parties from across the political spectrum agreed at a rare meeting to back a deficit budget if necessary.

12.   Most center-right opposition deputies have repeatedly said they would not vote for a deficit budget.

13.   Mr Lau did not think a deficit budget would violate the Basic Law.

14.   Ng Ching-fai, re-elected without party affiliation, said on Sunday he did not see how a deficit budget would violate the Basic Law.

15.   Nor did the party ask Sir Donald for a deficit budget.

16.   Sir Donald went on to say that a one-year deficit budget would not be the answer to all the current problems.

17.   THE Basic Law should be amended to allow the government to stimulate the economy through a deficit budget during hard times, the Confederation of Trade Unions says.

18.   The Chief Executive said in a media interview that a deficit budget to stimulate the ailing economy was out of the question.

19.   The two consecutive years of deficit budgets are a result of an economic crisis marked by flat growth and near insolvency in the financial sector.

20.   The tougher economic situation, however, had increased public demand for a deficit budget this year.