By South China Morning Post | Created at 2024-10-05 09:22:51 | Updated at 2024-10-05 11:19:29
1 hour ago
Hong Kong’s former chief executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor has been urged to relocate her publicly funded office costing HK$5.67 million (US$730,000) in rent annually to government premises or a cheaper building when the lease expires in mid-2025.
Criticism emerged earlier this year when the government revealed that her office cost taxpayers an estimated HK$9.17 million in the past financial year, including HK$5.67 million for rent and HK$2.86 million in staff expenses.
The government’s Administration Wing on Saturday told the Post that the lease of Lam’s 2,874 sq ft space at the One Pacific Place in Admiralty would expire mid-May 2025.
“The government is handling the relevant arrangement according to established policies and procedures, which will be announced in due course,” its spokesman said.
Lawmaker Dominic Lee Tsz-king of the New People’s Party suggested authorities move her office to a government building or a site with a lower rental rate.
“The government has to take into account its financial situation, where there was a deficit of HK$183.9 billion [from April to August this year],” he said.
