THE Regional Council hopes to spend $70 million next year celebrating its 10th anniversary.
The amount is almost double the $38 million bill for the Regional Council Festival last year, which attracted crowds of 2.8 million.
But Democratic Party Regional Councillor Lam Wing-yin cast doubts over the plan. It was not a good time for big spending because of the gloomy economy, he said.
The festival last year had been extravagant, he said, and the money for next year's event could be better used in other areas, such as health and recreation facilities.
The Regional Council hopes to attract millions of people to the festival. With hundreds of local and international events, it will be the largest of its kind in Hong Kong. It begins in April and ends in December.
It is hoped sponsors can contribute $30 million of the $70 million.
