Can Hong Kong district councils spend HK$1.8b wisely, author asks
Research examines each council's plans for spending their HK$100 million funding for community projects and finds both good and bad. The book could be a useful guide for voters in November's council elections
Cheers erupted when Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying announced in 2013 that HK$1.8 billion would be allocated for community projects across the city - HK$100 million for each of the 18 districts. District councillors wasted no time coming up with schemes to improve their neighbourhoods.
However, disputes have since broken out over a lack of public consultation and conflicts of interest in some projects. Among the most controversial was a proposal to spend HK$50 million on installing a "world-class" musical fountain along the Kwun Tong promenade; detractors condemned it as an extravagant and wasteful use of funds.
Then the district council of Kowloon City came under fire when it voted to use its entire allocation on rejuvenating the Cattle Depot Artist Village; critics were angered not only because there was no consultation, but also by the haste - councillors approved the plan after just one hour's discussion.
All 18 district councils have finalised their proposals, which now await Legislative Council approval. Even so, there is still public opposition to some plans.
Determined to find out whether the HK$1.8 billion of public money would be put to good use, broadcaster Paul Lam Chi-kit brought together a team of researchers, pored over piles of council documents and interviewed more than 50 district councillors to get to the bottom of councils' decision-making over the past two years. The results have been collated in a book, 18 Districts 18 Signatures, unveiled at the recent Hong Kong Book Fair.