Was speedy fund approval for Hong Kong cadets linked to favouritism? Home affairs chief denies this
Statutory body granted HK$30 million funding for Hong Kong Army Cadets Association, of which Secretary for Home Affairs Lau Kong-wah is an honorary adviser
About a week after the approval, the association, founded last year, was granted HK$30 million by the Board of Management of the Chinese Permanent Cemeteries – a statutory body chaired by Lau as home affairs chief – for the project.
Democratic lawmakers – who alleged that the funds approval was “unusually speedy” – and some relatively older uniformed groups had questioned whether the Army Cadets Association was favoured because of connections that go beyond even Lau.
Its commander-in-chief is Regina Leung Tong Ching-yee, the wife of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying. Leung is also an honorary patron along with People’s Liberation Army Hong Kong garrison head Major General Tan Benhong and central government liaison office director Zhang Xiaoming.
But Lau denied the suggestion of favouritism. “My role in the association is only honorary, I did not take part in its operation. In fact, as home affairs minister, I have honorary roles on dozens of organisations … There was no conflict of interest involved, and the process was absolutely fair,” Lau said.