Slow down on Hong Kong’s less-urgent public projects to save money: lawmakers
Legislators suggest putting projects on hold or breaking them up into stages to tackle budget deficit expected to reach nearly HK$100 billion
Hong Kong lawmakers have called on the government to delay less-urgent construction projects or break them up into stages to help tackle a budget deficit expected to reach nearly HK$100 billion (US$12.8 billion).
The call on Monday follows Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po’s comments in his weekly blog that the administration would prioritise public works projects and maintain sustainable public finances.
Chan earlier noted the government would record a deficit of just below HK$100 billion for the current financial year, more than double the HK$48.1 billion projected in last February’s budget, and similar to the 2023-24 deficit of HK$101.6 billion.
Among the projects named by lawmakers was the government’s plan to spend about HK$600 million to HK$700 million to set up a gallery on the Wan Chai waterfront to showcase the Northern Metropolis and Lantau Tomorrow megaprojects, among other large-scale development plans.
“The government should merge the City Gallery in Central with the planned one to save resources,” legislator Tony Tse Wai-chuen said.
Lawmakers representing various sectors earlier questioned whether building the proposed gallery fully capitalised on the prime location or was worth the cost.