Hong Kong finance chief Paul Chan says official residence needed a makeover, but he ‘will not splash out’
The last time the 40,000 sq ft property was renovated was 10 years ago, he says
Finance chief Paul Chan Mo-po has insisted his official residence in Shouson Hill was in need of renovations following reports he spent millions of taxpayer-funded dollars on revamping the property.
Reports emerged on Friday that Chan, who took over the position of finance chief last month after John Tsang Chun-wah resigned to run for chief executive, spent an estimated HK$2 million on renovating the 40,000 sq ft residence at 45 Shouson Hill Road.
Chan plans to move into the residence next month, just four months before a new administration is formed in early July.
It was reported that the renovation, carried out by the Architectural Services Department, included changing all the curtains, carpets and the kitchen stone bench-top, as well as rebuilding a koi pond and a tennis court.
We will only spend it in the right places
Speaking on radio on Saturday morning, Chan said there had not yet been an estimate of the renovation costs and the works would be basic, such as repainting the walls, changing some old furniture and renewing the tennis court.