Legco approves HK$5b injection for care fund despite criticism

Amid heavy criticism inside and outside the chamber, the Legislative Council approved the government's HK$5 billion cash injection into the Community Care Fund.

Of the 46 legislators attending the finance committee meeting yesterday, 27 voted in favour of the funding, while six were against and 12 abstained after a three-hour debate. The chairman does not vote.

The ballot should have been cast on May 6 on the government's share of the HK$10 billion fund - which was supposed to be matched by the private sector - but was deferred because too many lawmakers questioned the private sector's shortfall.

Ministers said last week that only HK$680 million had been secured from the business sector so far, with another HK$1.12 billion pledged.

'Why should we give you the HK$5 billion now? It was expected to be a matched fund but you only have HK$680 million now,' People Power lawmaker Wong Yuk-man said.

Echoing the stance taken by the Democratic Party and Civic Party, accountancy sector lawmaker Paul Chan Mo-po said he had not supported injecting the full HK$5 billion in one go.

'Now that we have handed over all the money, the committee will not be able to vet projects initiated by the fund,' Chan said.