Annual operating costs for offices of ex-Hong Kong leaders reach HK$21 million, with Carrie Lam’s workplace accounting for 44%

Revised estimate of recurrent expenditure for Carrie Lam’s office at Pacific Place in Admiralty was HK$9.17 million in 2023-24, director of administration says

Director also says Lam attended more than 700 promotional or protocol-related functions in her capacity as a former city leader in past two years

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Carrie Lam served a five-year term as chief executive. Photo: May Tse

Published: 11:12pm, 15 Apr 2024Updated: 10:09am, 16 Apr 2024

Operating expenses for the offices of four former Hong Kong chief executives reached nearly HK$21 million (US$2.7 million) in the last financial year, with about 44 per cent attributed to the workplace of Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor who attended more than 700 activities in the past 24 months.

The director of administration said on Monday that the revised estimate of recurrent expenditure for Lam’s office at Pacific Place in Admiralty was around HK$9.17 million, including HK$5.67 million for rent and HK$2.86 million in staff expenses.

Recurrent expenditure for Lam’s office rose 31 per cent year on year. It accounted for about 44 per cent of the total expenditure for running all four former leaders’ offices, which stood at HK$20.99 million in the 2023-24 financial year.

Carrie Lam has an office in Pacific Place in Admiralty. Photo: David Wong

The director also said Lam attended more than 700 promotional or protocol-related functions in her capacity as a former city leader in the past two years.

Lawmaker Dominic Lee Tsz-king from the New People’s Party said Lam mainly attended events out of courtesy and questioned if the grade A office space was necessary. He suggested moving her office to government property or other commercial areas, such as Kai Tak.

“The city’s economy is bad and the government is facing a deficit. The former leader should go through this difficult time together,” he said.

“Even multinational corporations are moving their offices to places with lower rent. Why does a former chief executive need to rent such space?”