The government provides offices and administrative support for the outgoing chief executive, but the "Former Chief Executive's Office" on Kennedy Road, a government property, can only accommodate three ex-chief executives. As a result, Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor has to spend more than 4.52 million yuan per year to rent Pacific Place in Admiralty after leaving office. office.
The past four chief executives were all aged between 62 and 67 when they left office. Assuming that each former chief executive needs more than 30 years of support, the government may need to provide office support for seven former chief executives at the same time in the future.
"Hong Kong 01" asked the Administration for a long-term plan and budget, but received no positive response.
Tian Beichen, a member of the Legislative Council of the Roundtable on Actual Politics, believes that the "full house" of the former Chief Executive's office made Lam Cheng settle in a Grade-A commercial building, reflecting poor planning, which not only leads to a waste of resources and manpower that can be shared, but also inevitably causes the outside world to compare the location, rent and cost of each office. Size, etc., Tu Sheng is right or wrong: "If Li Jiachao resigns, Shimi wants to move to a peaceful place in Mong Kok, will it be under great pressure when the next chief executive leaves office? Shimi wants to move to Sha Tau Kok first. have to?"
Carrie Lam's lease of a Grade-A commercial building takes up 40% of the total budget
The Administration Department responded to the enquiry of "Hong Kong 01" that in 2022/23, the estimated expenditure for the offices of the four former chief executives is about $19 million.
Compared to the 2020/21 year, the total expenditure of the three former chief executives is estimated to be about HK$11.41 million. Carrie Lam will spend nearly 8 million more after joining the ranks of stepping down.
After deducting the rent of the rented Grade A office buildings, the estimated operating expenses of Lam Cheng Office exceeded 3 million, which is similar to the per capita expenditure of the previous three chief executives.
Looking through the information, these operating expenses include staff salaries. Each former special capital has its own senior personal assistant, assistant clerical officer and VIP car driver.
Other employment services and professional fees, as well as other general departmental expenses, are shared by the former chief executives in the same building, such as the first three chief executives Tung Chee-hwa, Donald Tsang and Leung Chun-ying, who have been sharing a clerk because they are concentrated in 28 Kennedy Road. assistant.
The total floor area of the government property is about 5,700 square feet, and the reception room and reception area are shared.
However, Lam Cheng has exclusive use of 2,900 square feet due to the "full house" lease of a Grade-A commercial building on Kennedy Road.
The government once explained that there were no suitable government premises in Central and Admiralty, so it leased Pacific Place and signed a three-year lease.
"Hong Kong 01" inquired when the Administration Department began to plan the office arrangements after Lam Cheng's resignation, and whether it had begun to consider whether to stay after the appointment. Or reset Lam Cheng's office.
Administration Department: Carrie Lam's three-year contract expires and considers relocation
Tian Beichen criticized the government for not having long-term plans. Seeing that the practice of walking and renting commercial buildings is not cost-effective, the annual cost of Lam Cheng's office is 8 million yuan, accounting for 40% of all the expenses of the "former chief executive's office". Shared with other former chief executives.
He suggested that the authorities find a large government building to house all the outgoing chief executives in a centralized manner. The reserved space can be used by other departments first, and the space can be vacated for renovation when another chief executive resigns.
As for the location, another study can be done, and the most important thing is to start long-term planning as soon as possible.
He emphasized that one should not wait for a chief executive to leave office before looking for a new place: "Every office is different, so it's easy to make comparisons and criticize people."
Tian Beichen.
(file picture)
Shared office buildings can share resources, the activity of the former chief executive varies
Tian Beichen asked the government in writing earlier, and also asked whether the authorities would review the mechanism, such as setting up offices only for the last three former chief executives, to ensure the sustainability of the mechanism and the proper use of public funds.
The government responded that it will continue to set up appropriate offices and administrative support for all former chief executives according to the actual situation.
Tian Beichen said that in order to review, there needs to be indicators to measure the effectiveness, such as how many public welfare affairs the former chief executive handles each year, or introduce the history of Hong Kong.
The government did not respond to any performance indicators, but said support was provided to the former chief executives to assist them in their promotional and courtesy work for Hong Kong after leaving office, including meeting visiting dignitaries and delegations, accepting local and overseas media interviews, and participating in events , delivering speeches; while the previous office would arrange events for them, receive visitors, handle letter inquiries, provide vehicle transfers, and perform general administrative work.
Looking through the information, the Administration Department has disclosed the number of times the former Chief Executive attended promotional and ceremonial activities, but there was a huge gap in different years. Taking 2018/19 as an example, Tung Chee-hwa and Leung Chun-ying attended more than 500 events respectively. Tsang, who was involved in lawsuits at the time, attended In the previous year, Tung Chee-hwa attended 200 events, and Tsang and Leung Chun-ying attended more than 100 events each.
Carrie Lam has an exclusive 2,900-square-foot office for $13.57 million. Signing a 3-year contract Tian Beichen: Are there any performance indicators?
Hong Kong Billiard Masters ︱ Carrie Lam appeared in the Red Pavilion to support Fu Jiajun Zheng Yongshun: It is estimated that he knows all things in the political arena | Carrie Lam appeared in Cheung Wah Street, Fanling Netizens: Many people took photos with him to clear customs during the year?
Leung Chun-ying urges not to wait: If you value the opportunity, 7+3 is worth paying to attract talents. Leung Chun-ying: In addition to 0+0, the Human Development Index must be superstarred after the decolonization of political misunderstandings. The Chief Executive's family members and Tung Chee-hwa did not show up. Chen Zhisi was appointed as the executive vice chairman of the United Hong Kong Fund. Chen Zhisi was in charge of the daily work of Tung Chee-hwa.