Hong Kong approves HK$9.8 billion ‘light public housing’ scheme funding in 2 minutes. One lawmaker says lack of debate gives ‘bad impression’
- Legislative Council’s Finance Committee approved the request in less than two minutes on Friday with no members objecting
- Funding will go towards building 13,000 temporary homes on nine sites in second stage of scheme, which aims to serve families on public rental flat waiting list
Hong Kong legislators have swiftly approved a HK$9.8 billion (US$1.25 billion) funding request to construct the second batch of government-built temporary flats, with a lawmaker warning that the lack of debate over the motion might give the public a “bad impression”.
The Legislative Council’s Finance Committee approved the request in less than two minutes on Friday with a show of hands that drew no objection.
Lawmaker Michael Tien Puk-sun said the lack of discussion over the project’s hefty price tag was not ideal, especially when his colleagues spent almost 90 minutes debating a HK$1 billion injection into a government scholarship fund at the same meeting.
“It is disproportionate. It gives a bad impression to society,” he said.
The committee gave the project the green light after the Public Works Subcommittee, which had convened for a two-hour meeting about three weeks earlier, voted by an overwhelming majority not to discuss the project further on Friday.