Letters | Why is Hong Kong’s efficient government so slow on cash handouts?

It has been a year since the Caring and Sharing Scheme was announced and more than three months since applications opened. Why is it taking so long?

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People queue up to collect Caring and Sharing Scheme application forms, at the Wan Chai Home Affairs inquiry Centre in January. Applications closed on April 30. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Published: 1:00pm, 16 May 2019Updated: 1:00pm, 16 May 2019

Our coffers are overflowing and I appreciate Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po’s efforts in convincing Chief Executive Carrie Lam to share some of that excess with the people of Hong Kong.

The Caring and Sharing Scheme was announced more than a year ago, and it has been more than three months since applications opened for eligible Hongkongers to receive up to HK$4,000 each under the scheme. But while applications have been acknowledged, the crediting of cash has been slow.

We have one of the most efficient governments in the world, better than in the United States, United Kingdom or elsewhere in Europe. So why, suddenly, has the administration become so lethargic and slow to respond?

I remember that during a similar HK$6,000 handout scheme during the administration of Donald Tsang Yam-kuen in 2011, eligible Hongkongers had the amount credited to their bank accounts within weeks. This time around, people are confused and dismayed, and curse the administration for falling short on the claims of efficiency. The complicated process has also deterred many from applying.

Our chief executive proudly talks about our administrative efficiency. This is so even though many people lack the basic necessities. Yet, our government is anxious to do anything the central government wants, such as the high-speed rail and Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge projects, which cost hundreds of billions of Hong Kong dollars, with many more to come. We are going to have artificial islands off Lantau by 2030, costing HK$624 billion. Macau could have easily contributed more for the bridge project, but clearly we have money to burn so we did not need it.