Sometimes we take living in Hong Kong for granted. This past week has once again reminded me of how wonderful it is to be a part of this great city, but at the same time it has also left me frustrated at how things work. As part of the middle class, it was heartening to see the budget - the last one under the present administration - cater towards our needs. The government has been kind and made cuts to taxes. While the rest of the world struggles to make ends meet, Hong Kong merrily gives its citizens much-needed breaks. Where else in the world does this happen?
Yes, we might have huge reserves - HK$661 billion - and the surplus this past year was more than expected - HK$66 billion and counting with two months of the fiscal year remaining - but you rarely see generous handouts in other parts of the world. When the going is good, the people get a piece of the pie.
Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah can't please all the people but he deserves another bouquet for announcing that the Mega Events Fund will continue for a further five years. The government has not only topped up the fund with an additional HK$150 million, but it has also admitted the way it is run needs to be improved.
It seems the government listens with an open ear. Countless objections have been raised about how the fund - used to bankroll high-profile events - has been run, especially in regard to the excruciating application process as well as the idiocy of handing out funds piecemeal to successful candidates. Now there are moves to streamline it.
This will be welcomed by all sports associations that have plans of hosting mega events, which one hopes will not only raise the city's profile, but also benefit sport in the long run. So hats off to the government for continuing with the scheme.
Now the brickbat. While the system works, it moves very slowly and this is the gripe of the sporting community that is looking forward to the Kai Tak sports hub being built. Once again, in the budget, reference was made to the HK$19 billion project at the former airport site, one which will provide a 50,000-seater state-of-the-art stadium (complete with retractable roof) plus two smaller stadiums, one of which will be indoors, by 2018-19.
Hong Kong Rugby Football Union boss Trevor Gregory was right on the money when he claimed a lot of time had been wasted already. His argument is that the government knew the old airport would be closed well before 1997 and has done nothing about it ever since. It has been 15 years and counting since the airport was moved and that prime land has been vacant all this time. We could have stolen a march on Singapore, which will open a sports hub in March 2014. We could have had mega sporting events and dazzling pop concerts, but instead we cast envious glances at the Lion City and other go-getting Asian destinations.
