Lawmakers lock horns over 26 public works items ... while HK$12.4 billion funding vote stalls
Pan-democrats urge separating controversial projects such as Wang Chau development for scrutiny, but government claims it’s disruptive to do so
Voting on HK$12.4 billion funding for a package of over 9,428 public works items was further delayed on Friday at a Hong Kong legislative panel meeting as pan-democratic lawmakers locked horns with the government over the bundling of 26 controversial projects.
Pan-democratic lawmakers also called on Legco to review a long-standing finance committee practice of authorising the government to seek funding for the Capital Works Reserve Fund on an en bloc basis once every year. Specifically, the practice gives the government authority to approve small project expenditures not exceeding HK$30 million per item.
“We are not rubber stamps that automatically approve any government proposals,” Yiu said. “If some items could involve conflicts of interest, why can’t the government take them out and let us examine them one by one?”