Transparency so important with quake aid
The Hong Kong government wants to donate HK$10 billion for the reconstruction work in Sichuan .
Hong Kong is financially independent from the central government, legally speaking, so unlike mainland provinces, it does not have to pay 1 per cent of its fiscal revenue. However, we must appreciate that Hong Kong, being part of China, has had support from Beijing when it was needed. Without Beijing's support during the 1997 Asian financial downturn and the Sars crisis, Hong Kong might not have been able to overcome its difficulties so quickly and return to prosperity. The Hong Kong government has a moral duty to help.
We cannot turn a blind eye to what needs to be done. And we have to accept that the reconstruction work is not a short-term process. It may take 10 years or more to redevelop some areas. Given what needs to be done, I don't think it is too much to ask Hong Kong to donate HK$10 billion. However, it is important that we know how the money will be used. The government should have a clear plan and make the appropriate announcements in order to get public support. We need to know how the money will be spent.
Will it be spent on new schools or roads and other infrastructure projects? And will Hong Kong volunteers be allowed to go out there and help with the reconstruction work? We need to know if all this work will be properly supervised. HK$10 billion is not a small amount of money. If it is not made clear to the public how it is being spent, or if some of it is taken by those who do not need it, then this violates the whole purpose of the donation.
Therefore, the government must communicate with the public on this issue.
I think that if people see that the government has a clear spending plan for this donation, then they will be more than willing to help out Sichuan.