Exclusive clubs took millions of Hong Kong dollars in wage subsidies designed to help cash-strapped firms during Covid fifth wave
- Hong Kong Golf Club received HK$6.9 million in total for 442 employees in May and June
- Prestigious institutions such as the Hong Kong Country Club, Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, Hong Kong Cricket Club and American Club also tapped scheme
According to government lists of participants in the Employment Support Scheme, the Hong Kong Golf Club, founded in 1889, obtained the largest amount of aid among these members-only groups, receiving HK$6.9 million (US$880,000) in total for 442 employees in May and June.
Other beneficiaries include such prestigious institutions as the Hong Kong Country Club, the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, the Hong Kong Cricket Club and the American Club, which only allow members to access their facilities. The scheme limited wage assistance to HK$8,000 a month per worker, and many of the clubs took the maximum amount.
A lawmaker on Monday questioned whether these exclusive clubs, which already occupy prime sites and pay no or nominal land premium, should be granted subsidies.
A spokeswoman for the Hong Kong Golf Club said it had lost revenue from all golf-related activities as it had to close down for four months amid business curbs imposed during the fifth wave.
“All lessees of private recreational leases in Hong Kong had to close their sports facilities as required by the government’s anti-pandemic policies during the fifth wave of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Hong Kong Golf Club was no exception,” she said.
“During the club’s four-month closure, we resolved to keep all of our staff on our payroll at full salary levels despite the loss of revenue from all golf-related activities.
