Hong Kong’s government has revealed that it spent HK$9.17 million on rent, salaries and other expenses to fund former leader Carrie Lam’s office last year, a figure 32 per cent higher than the previous year.
Authorities set up an office for Lam after she finished her chief executive term in 2022, in line with practices for past leaders. The offices are intended for ex-chief executives to conduct activities such as receiving dignitaries and giving media interviews.
Traditionally, the government sets up offices for Hong Kong’s chief executives following the completion of their terms at the Office of Former Chief Executives, a Grade I historic building in Mid-Levels. Former leader Tung Chee-hwa, Donald Tsang and Leung Chun-ying’s offices are in the historic building.
But Lam’s office is located in the Grade A Pacific Place office building in Admiralty as authorities said the building was not large enough to accommodate a fourth office.
Of the HK$9.17 million spent on recurring expenses in the last fiscal year, rent constituted the largest part of the expenditure. According to Ng, Lam’s office spent HK$5.67 million on “rent and related expenses” last year, while remuneration for staff cost HK$2.86 million and daily operations cost $640,000.
The government’s Administration Wing provided the figures in writing in response to lawmaker Dominic Lee, who raised the matter as part of initial questions asked by legislators ahead of Legislative Council meetings to discuss the budget for this financial year.
See also: Ex-Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam’s office to cost over HK$22 million in taxpayer money over 3 years
The HK$9.17 million in recurrent expenses last year was about 32 per cent more than the amount spent the previous year, according to the Administration Wing. In the 2022 to 2023 fiscal year, the government spent HK6.95 million.
Separately, HK$6.55 million was spent on non-recurrent expenditure for the office’s renovation work in the previous year, including furniture and equipment. There was no recorded non-recurrent expenditure last year.
Ahead of the budget meetings, lawmaker Paul Tse asked whether authorities had considered ways to reduce the expenditure and whether the government property in Central can be better utilised to provide an office for Lam.
“The Office at 28 Kennedy Road can only accommodate 3 former CEs at most and no space
is available to set up an office for the fourth former CE,” the Administration Wing said in its written reply, adding that the authorities would continue to provide “appropriate office accommodation and administrative support.”
Personal chauffer and medical benefits
Since 2005, the government has been offering offices and administrative support for all former chief executives.
According to the Administration Wing, each former leader is supported by one senior personal assistant, one assistant clerical officer and one personal chauffeur.
Former chief executives are also entitled to security protection, as well as medical and dental care.
Authorities estimated that Hong Kong will spend HK$22 million to maintain the four offices in the 2024 to 25 fiscal year, a 23 per cent increase compared to in 2022 to 2023.
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