Lawmakers grill officials over incoming leader’s ambitious plan to revamp Hong Kong government

Legislators ask whether the HK$95 million the overhaul will cost taxpayers annually will be money well spent

Centrist lawmaker Tik Chi-yuen calls for proceeding with the bureau overhaul but delaying the creation of deputy secretary posts

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Chief Executive-elect John Lee. Photo: Nora Tam

Published: 6:34pm, 20 May 2022Updated: 6:36pm, 20 May 2022

Hong Kong legislators have questioned whether the incoming city leader’s plan to overhaul the government will translate into better delivery of public services and improvements in performance worth the HK$95 million (US$12.1 million) annual price tag, but they are inclined to endorse the blueprint.

Some lawmakers also expressed concern on Friday over whether the restructuring would provide enough support for policymaking that adequately supported young people and the industrial sector.

The restructuring plan, which the city leader’s top advisers endorsed on Tuesday, calls for increasing the number of bureaus from 13 to 15 and creating deputy posts under the secretaries for administration, finance and justice to better o-ordinate large infrastructure projects and improve communication throughout the civil service. Chief Executive-elect John Lee Ka-chiu has expressed hope that the Legislative Council will approve the blueprint next month before he takes over on July 1.

Starry Lee (centre), chairwoman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong. Photo: May Tse

At a Legco subcommittee meeting on Friday, Starry Lee Wai-king, chairwoman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, said key performance indicators must be set to ensure the restructuring plan worked as intended.

“In the eyes of residents, what matters is whether the revamped administration can achieve results,” she said. “After nearly HK$100 million per year is spent, can Hong Kong improve its competitiveness and resolve the deep-seated social issues?”

Tony Tse Wai-chuen, who represents the architectural, surveying, planning and landscape sector, said: “I support the plan. But we need to be prudent in public finance and consider the views of the people. With a price tag of HK$95 million a year, residents may only see this as a negative factor, before seeing its benefits.”

But Daniel Cheng Chung-wai, secretary general of the Chief Executive-elect’s Office, sought to allay concerns by noting that Lee had put achieving results at the heart of his vision for governing.