Hong Kong lawmakers warned of HK$31.6 billion loss if they fail to endorse Disneyland revamp funding
Commerce minister Greg So sounds warning as Finance Committee fails to vote on HK$5.45 billion request to fund city’s share of development cost
In a desperate attempt to press for Finance Committee endorsement, commerce minister Greg So Kam-leung told lawmakers on Saturday that a risk test showed Hong Kong could lose up to HK$31.6 billion in economic benefits over 40 years if Disneyland’s visitor numbers shrank by 15 per cent.
Lawmakers were unable to vote on the funding request at the end of a seven-hour debate, which included two failed motions seeking adjournment of the proceedings.
There were also several scuffles between pan-democratic lawmakers and committee chairman Chan Kin-por.
In one case, Chan had to adjourn the meeting briefly because Raymond Chan Chi-chuen and “Long Hair” Leung Kwok-hung rushed to the chairman’s seat, protesting against his rejection of Eddie Chu Hoi-dick’s call for additional terms to be added to the funding application.