Building extensions at Hong Kong’s Legislative Council will cost HK$1.17 billion
- The Legco extensions are needed to accommodate an additional 20 lawmakers’ offices following Beijing’s electoral overhaul
- Construction on the extensions is expected to begin by the middle of 2022 at earliest and be completed by the middle of 2025
Speaking after a closed-door meeting on Monday, Legco president Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen revealed that construction on a new, triangular 10-storey building and an addition of four floors to the existing one was expected to begin by the middle of 2022 at earliest and be completed by the middle of 2025.
Citing information from the Architectural Services Department, Leung said Legco’s secretariat, along with 45 members and their staff, would work from a temporary location on three floors of the nearby Citic Tower while the construction was under way.
“The government has rented those spaces for Legco to use … The rent was decided between the government and the landlord based on commercial principles,” he said.
“According to our past agreements, Legco only needs to pay the government HK$1 dollar in nominal rent.”
The new development will not only increase the number of conference venues and offices for Legco members and the secretariat, but will also expand the existing catering facilities, as well as rooms dedicated to educational activities for young visitors.
Legco plans to submit a funding application to its public works subcommittee on August 25. If lawmakers approve the request, it will then be submitted to Legco’s Finance Committee for final endorsement on September 10.
The latest update on Legco’s physical expansion comes four months after a major shake-up of Hong Kong’s electoral system, decreed by the National People’s Congress and aimed at curbing the influence of Hong Kong’s opposition camp.