Political situation
Written by: Zhou Lixi
2021-05-28 19:20
Last update date: 2021-05-28 19:26
The government applied to the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council to allocate 1.1 billion yuan to the lottery fund. Today, it was approved with 13 votes in favor and 12 against, with two abstentions.
A number of establishment members questioned the fund's operating mode and insufficient income sources at the meeting, criticized the lack of transparency in the operation of the fund, and even asked the fund to change its name.
Some Members worry that the fund’s commitment is higher than the income and that the debt will be insolvent. The Deputy Secretary of the Bureau of Labor and Welfare, He Qiming, emphasized at the meeting that the fund has reserved funds to the promised commitment and will only use it in the future. Do your best and you will not be insolvent.
He also mentioned that there will be more one-off expenses in the next few years, but it does not mean that it will continue to increase in the future.
Lu Songxiong of the Federation of Trade Unions.
(Screenshot of the live broadcast of the Legislative Council)
The Federation of Trade Unions Lu Chung-hsiung is concerned at the Finance Committee that the public may not understand the meaning of the lottery fund's name. He questioned who participated in the approval process and transparency of the fund. He believed that if the government's commitment is large, it should not be named like that.
He Qiming responded that he would go back to study, but said that part of the fund's funds did come from lotteries.
In terms of transparency, he pointed out that not only members of the social welfare sector are included in the fund, but also reports are submitted to the Committee on Welfare Services every year, and various details are set out in the budget.
The deputy director of the Social Welfare Department retorted that: the name will not be changed
The Deputy Director of the Social Welfare Department, Guo Zhiliang, added at this time that the name of the lottery fund has been in the 1960s and it is believed that the name will not be changed.
He said that there are different professionals as representatives, and there are welfare projects that have been accounted for and approved in the Legislative Council this year.
After hearing this, Lu Songxiong asked the authorities whether they needed their support.
He Qiming immediately added that the deputy director meant that they would not change their name immediately, and that they would go back to study.
It is reported that a number of established members whispered to the Labour Welfare Bureau afterwards, believing that the performance of the Deputy Director of the Social Welfare Department, Guo Zhiliang, needs to be improved, and urged the authorities to go back and review it.
Liu Yan (left), Permanent Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Photo/Photo by Zhang Haowei)
Bureau of Finance and Treasury: Fund expression can be further studied
When Ma Fengguo asked about financial discipline, Liu Yan, the Permanent Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, responded that the main financial source of the lottery fund is lotteries and other income, which is prescribed by law.
She also pointed out that the accounts of the fund have always been listed, and the use of various funds will be accounted for in different committees of the Legislative Council.
As for members questioning whether the fund is sufficient, Liu Yan responded that the fund is only used as a carrier to cover certain aspects of government revenue. He believes that the expression can be further studied, but if the fund wants to open a project that cannot be undertaken, it needs internal government research. , Cooperate with policy projects.
He Qiming, Deputy Secretary of the Bureau of Labor and Welfare.
(Information Picture/Photo by Zhang Haowei)
Many MPs pointed out that insufficient fund income should be used to increase revenue and reduce expenditure
The New Democrat Party Rong Haien pointed out that the fund lost revenue due to the decrease in the income of the Mark Six lottery. He asked the authorities whether to study how to increase the income, such as increasing the number of Mark Six lottery draws. He also questioned whether it is necessary to set up all projects for preliminary research.
In response, He Qiming pointed out that the Jockey Club was responsible for the operation of the Mark Six lottery and could not respond on his behalf.
The 43 medium and long-term construction projects undertaken by the fund will not have much impact on the next one or two years, but the supply of facilities in the next few years will emerge. He does not want the situation to deteriorate.
Rong Haien retorted that the opening of new projects of the lottery fund stipulates that the funds should be opened when the income is guaranteed. On the contrary, the current income is insufficient and new projects should not be opened.
The Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong asked the Labour and Welfare Bureau whether the relevant 1.1 billion yuan of funds should be applied for through the Public Works Subcommittee. It is not necessary to inject capital into the lottery fund.
He Qiming responded that the lottery fund has been limited to social welfare facilities since the 1960s and can be reviewed in the future, but now it should apply for funding in a way that has been effective in the past.
Zheng Songtai pointed out that today's discussion should focus on the extent to which the application of the lottery fund should be expanded. He also said that the lottery fund has always been funded by the Jockey Club Mark Six income. He questioned why the bureau did not apply for money from the Jockey Club when the funds provided by the Jockey Club were reduced. , And applied to the Finance Committee, criticizing the corrupt practices and questioning the Jockey Club’s practice of only dividing 4% of its income into the lottery fund.
He Qiming retorted that social welfare expenditures cannot be called corruption, and that social welfare expenditures always require expenditures. Therefore, they apply for funding from the Finance Committee. As for the amount of funds allocated by the Jockey Club, there is an established mechanism to deal with it.
Xie Weiquan, the construction and testing community.
(Information Picture/Photo by Lu Yiming)
Labour and Welfare Bureau: A commitment must be reserved for the construction of social welfare facilities
Xie Weiquan is concerned that he has criticized the fund for insufficient information, and is still disappointed today. He believes that the document only mentions the forecast for next year without revealing more future plans. He questioned whether the authorities think that there is a moral high ground for welfare, and the Legislative Council can only approve it. "He emphasized that there is currently no way to support funding.
Xie also criticized that 1,100 projects in the Lottery Fund involved repairs and renovations. He doubted it was like a recurring expenditure. He did not understand why the authorities were eager to apply for funding and criticized the authorities for not paying attention to the Finance Committee.
In response, He Qiming reiterated that this funding is mainly used for one-off expenses, but when the future commitment is insufficient, when other Transportation and Housing Bureau and Development Bureau ask them if they need to build social welfare facilities, they cannot build social welfare facilities. , So it is necessary to keep a certain amount of commitment in advance.
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Legislative Council Finance Committee Federation of Trade Unions Ho Qiming (FTU) Lu Chung-hsiung SWD Ma Fengguo New Democratic Party Rong Haien Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong Liang Zhixiang Cheng Songtai