Lawmakers plan trip costing up to HK$560,000 to study poverty
Lawmakers looking at ways of dealing with poverty in HK plan a week-long fact-finding trip to two of world's most expensive cities
Lawmakers are considering spending up to HK$560,000 of public money on a week-long trip to find ways to deal with one of Hong Kong's most pressing problems - poverty.
They are planning a fact-finding mission to Sweden and Finland, two of the most expensive countries in the world.
The trip in August is described in briefing documents as a chance to study those countries' experience in alleviating poverty and addressing problems arising from an ageing population.
The documents, submitted to the Legislative Council subcommittee on poverty, outline the cost of air tickets, hotel rooms, airport tax, travel insurance, meals and travelling expenses.
If the lawmakers fly economy class, the cost of the trip works out at HK$25,698 per person including all expenses, while flying business class raises the figure to HK$45,098.
The funds will come from the HK$55,000 each lawmaker is allotted, per term, for overseas duty trips.