No-shows and early exits – Hong Kong rural chiefs who just can’t find time to attend district council meetings

Many of Hong Kong’s rural leaders have been skipping their local council meetings, a Post study has found, as they claim to be too busy working on behalf of villagers to show up, sparking renewed calls for an overhaul of the system to improve accountability.

In researching the minutes of full district council meetings since the start of the present term in 2016, the Post found one rural leader had missed more than half of the sessions. Another spent just four minutes at one meeting – after showing up an hour late.

Critics said the problem showed that many of Hong Kong’s 27 top rural patriarchs were not treating theirautomatic membership of district councils seriously. They, like all district councillors, are provided with an honorarium of more than HK$30,000 a month and other allowances.

Among the worst offenders was Frank Chan Shung-fai, who attended just nine of the 19 meetings held since 2016. Chan, chairman of the Ta Kwu Ling rural committee, left early on three occasions, and last year attended just one meeting – where he excused himself halfway through.

Chan is one of three rural leaders on North District Council to have a low attendance record. Bowie Hau Chi-keung and Li Kwok-fung, chairmen of the Ho Sheung Heung, and Fanling rural committees, respectively, are also serial offenders.