Legco to fast-track money for more projects

The legislature will agree to fast-track government works projects by raising the cost ceiling below which plans receive automatic approval, Finance Committee chairwoman Emily Lau Wai-hing said.

But Ms Lau said officials should not seek to 'blindly raise' the cap to bypass the Legislative Council, which had a duty to monitor spending.

Funding for works projects costing less than HK$15 million does not need Legco's approval. Because of the often long and complicated process for approving funding for projects, officials had sought to have the ceiling raised to HK$30 million. But the proposal has been opposed by some lawmakers, who believe it will affect their duty to scrutinise public spending.

Ms Lau said lawmakers had agreed to raise the limit to about HK$21 million.