Hong Kong lawmakers slam HK$3.75 million monthly bill for 6 Covid isolation facilities on standby
- All community isolation facilities built during pandemic have either been placed into ‘standby mode’ or are used for other purposes, government paper says
- Monthly expenditure on six standby facilities covers electricity and maintenance costs, as well as charges for security services from contractors
Hong Kong lawmakers have accused the government of wasting public money after it was revealed about HK$3.75 million is being spent each month to maintain six community isolation facilities unused since the coronavirus pandemic.
The legislators on Tuesday urged authorities to make better use of the sites by turning some of them over for other purposes as soon as possible.
According to a Development Bureau paper submitted to the Legislative Council’s Special Finance Committee on Monday, all community isolation facilities built during the Covid-19 pandemic have either been placed into “standby mode” or are used for other purposes.
Monthly expenditure on the six standby facilities stood at about HK$3.75 million in total, covering electricity and maintenance costs, as well as charges for essential security services provided by contractors.
Some still required outsourced cleansing services while lighting, air conditioning, fire services and telecoms equipment also had to be maintained, the bureau said.
“Individual facilities may incur additional expenditure if they have to be put to other uses should actual needs arise, and the expenditure incurred may also change from time to time,” the bureau added.
According to the authorities, the 65-hectare Penny’s Bay facility costs the most, at about HK$1.7 million a month, followed by the one in the Lok Ma Chau Loop, at about HK$1.4 million.
