Editorial | It is time to dispose of Hong Kong quarantine sites
- Millions of dollars are being spent every month to maintain facilities that are no longer needed
With public life largely back to normal for more than a year, the coronavirus pandemic may seem like a distant memory to many Hongkongers.
What is left as a reminder of that painful chapter are the quarantine camps that are still costing much money to maintain while pending proper disposal longer term.
Taxpayers can be excused for being outraged to learn that the six sites that have not been used for isolation since still incur a monthly expenditure of HK$3.75 million.
The 65-hectare Penny’s Bay facility costs the most, at about HK$1.7 million a month, followed by the Lok Ma Chau Loop site, at about HK$1.4 million. The remaining ones cost between HK$65,000 and HK$400,000 to maintain.
The bill covers electricity, maintenance costs and security services. Some still require outsourced cleaning services, and lighting, air conditioning, fire services and telecommunications equipment also have to be maintained, according to the Development Bureau.
Officials said all community isolation facilities had either been placed into “standby mode” or are being used for other purposes.